Five Vine Tips For Your Business

With so many different social platforms to play with in your marketing strategy, it's hard to focus and figure out how to utilize each one. There are many brands out there creating a huge buzz in the Vine and social-sphere, for example Oreo and Target. Both brands have honed in on their message and how to best use Vine.

The big question is how to get your message down to six seconds. It sounds daunting and unimaginable but quite possible. 

1. Think outside of the box.

This is your chance to have fun and come up with a great video that challenges your creative skills. Have fun with the video looping!

2. How-To style

There are a lot of brands that are making waves with using Vine as a way to show quick DIY videos. As I mentioned above, Oreo has created some intriguing videos. One in particular was the Vine post on how to make Oreo Freeze Pops.

3. Use Vine to announce products or events.

For example, if the business is a bakery, try making a Vine video of the dessert of the day.

4. Don't forget to share your Vine on Facebook and Twitter.

Vine now has 40 million users but they still aren't as frequented as Facebook or Twitter. Give your video a longer lifeline by sharing it.

5. Embed your Vine video on your site.

After you have shared it on Facebook and Twitter, you can grab the embed code and insert it into your blog or website.

For more information about Vine, check out "Instagram vs. Vine: Which App Is Better For You?"

SELF-BRANDING: How to make relateable content

Nowadays people are realizing that their talents and hobbies are interesting and people want to hear from the everyday person. Thanks to Pinterest, Google +, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and all the other social media platforms, people can begin to brand themselves into their own business.

The everyday person doesn't need advice from an expert, sometimes they just need some inspiration or ideas from someone they can relate to.

If you've been feeling like you have some great tips to share with people, you can start self-branding!

Take me for instance, my job is digital marketing, but I'm also a mom, dance teacher and a person who just loves to pick up new hobbies, even though I may not be particularly great at them all but there is an audience for people who identify with my everyday.

I started my own mobile app review with a hyper-local news site that allowed me to add entries of my reviews, very similar to a blog but it's a community page where other bloggers can contribute to one site. I called it "Hit or Miss Apps."

I am lucky enough to have access to News10 ABC and pitched this review as a possible segment for Sac&Co. Now I have segments telling viewers of the fun apps that I find that help me with the kids, work and fun.

Here are a few of my previous segments
May 24, 2012
September 28, 2012.

But even if you don't have access to on-air capabilities, there are other ways to get heard and seen.

1. Start your own blog.
2. Start your own YouTube views and post this on your blog.
3. Post any articles and videos on social media and have them all lead to your blog.
4. Be creative and make sure you use a tone that most people can relate to.
5. Know who you're talking to.
6. Go viral! Just remember to always have everything point back to your blog...this way it's not confusing to people on where to find your content.

Hope these tips help! Feel free to ask any questions!

How Recruiters Use Social Networks to Screen Candidates [INFOGRAPHIC]

How Recruiters Use Social Networks to Screen Candidates [INFOGRAPHIC]
by Erica Swallow

Over the past few years, we’ve seen social media used in the job market in a number of ways — startups, small businesses and large corporations alike are diving into the socialverse to find top talent, and job seekers are likewise getting creative with social media.

Social media monitoring service Reppler recently surveyed more than 300 hiring professionals to determine when and how job recruiters are screening job candidates on different social networks.

The study found that more than 90% of recruiters and hiring managers have visited a potential candidate’s profile on a social network as part of the screening process. And a whopping 69% of recruiters have rejected a candidate based on content found on his or her social networking profiles — an almost equal proportion of recruiters (68%), though, have hired a candidate based on his or her presence on those networks.

Check out the infographic below for more results from the survey, including what details on a candidate’s social profile make recruiters tick.

Do you know what your Web Identity is?

Since our world has become a virtual experience, we need to remember that even our lives and careers are being judged by our activity online, especially through social media and sharing.

Have you ever heard of the term "web identity?"

Your web identity is exactly how it sounds, it's you online. Take a moment to Google your name, what comes up? For most people, their Facebook profile shows up in the first spot or at least in the top 5. For others who are published online, work in digital media or are web enthusiasts have more associated with their name. Most are articles, blogs or photos.

The crazy thing is now employers, schools and anyone for that matter can learn about you just by searching your name. People need to start thinking of how they can impact their web identity in a positive way.

For my last two jobs, my employers looked at my web identity and used this information to judge whether they should hire me or not. Luckily I have been working on my web identity since 2002 and realized that I need to aware of what my name is associated with. I made sure photos that were inappropriate were not made public, the articles that were published online were the best representations of me and double checked all of my privacy settings for my social media accounts.

Students need to pay attention to this the most. They are entering a world where web identity is a major gauge of their academic career. Think of it as your online resume. People will be looking to see what you're doing and if you have qualities that best represent the company.

It's always harder to take things down from the web than it is to take that extra minute to filter your information.

Google your name...what does your web identity look like?

Facebook Marketing Tactics: The Best Practices in Representing Your Business on Facebook

Yesterday I attended an enlightening webinar hosted by one of the most creative digital marketing companies, Likeable Media. Dave Kerpen, CEO and founder of Likeable Media, shared his best tips on how to lead your brand's presence on Facebook.

In this webinar, they tackled the most common questions most businesses would have in regards to their brand on Facebook. I was quite impressed with their answers. Here are a couple of questions and answers from the discussion that I thought would be most helpful:

How do you handle a bad comment/post on your wall?

"Respond quickly to all bad comments!" said Kerpen. He went on to equate that not responding was similar to hanging up on a customer in front of thousands of people. He believes that commenting on those bad posts publicly, shows that you're listening and that you are willing to fix the problem instead of ignore it. "Simply respond with, 'I'm sorry you're having a problem, we sent you a private email to help fix the problem," said Kerpen. This way you're acknowledging the comment without having to defend yourself on an open forum. "The two most powerful words for businesses are, 'I'm sorry!' Sorry goes a long way and helps build confidence in your brand," explained Kerpen.


Should we only respond to the negative comments?

Absolutely not! "Thank you! is also another powerful group of words for a business on Facebook," said Kerpen. You want to give shout outs to those loyal customers and give the spot light to your brand ambassadors because without them, your brand would stop at them and would not be referred to their network of people. This will encourage more people to interact with the positive feedback, instead of only speaking out when they're unhappy.


How do non-profits engage their community more since they don't have a product or service they are trying to plug?

Engage your community by sharing their stories about the cause, as well as you as a business should share your own stories. This back and forth sharing will connect you all to the cause at hand and will bring you closer with a stronger relationship. "You must build the trust of your audience first and get those emotional connections before you ask for donations," suggests Kerpen.


If my business is more of a service agency, like a realtor, how do I market myself on Facebook?

First, think of your business through the eyes of the consumer. No one is dying to look for a realtor and that search isn't something you will want to invest in and become a fan or Like. You need to sculpt your business into the customer's needs, such as a Beautiful Homes in Arizona page. With this type of tactic, you'll be reaching the network of people who are interested at looking at homes and real estate. And that's a page that most people would rather Like, as opposed to a realtor's page.


To get more information about Facebook tactics for your business, check out Dave Kerpen's book, The Likeable Book.

Facebook Page vs. Website for Small Businesses

10 Reasons for Start-up or Small Businesses to Have a Facebook Page Instead of a Website.

If you're small business is just starting out and you're debating whether to invest in a website, I would hold off on that decision and try a Facebook page first.

Before you spend the money and time to get a site, why not try a free alternative. Here are the advantages with starting out with Facebook:

1. Free
2. Easy to use
3. No need to get someone to update and maintain your site.
4. Easier way to create your brand and a community of loyal customers.
5. Easy way to promote products and/or services.
6. Get instant feedback from your customer.
7. Easier for the customer to refer your business through Facebook than a website.
8. Instant and easy marketing campaigns through Facebook.
9. Can support and create new relationships with other businesses.
10. Tools and support all built in. Facebook has multiple pages catered to help businesses. (i.e. Facebook Marketing page, which offer webinars featuring some of the top digital marketing gurus in the world, Tabs that can allow you to have different sections on your page.)

Just remember when you enter the social media world, you have to realize that this realm is a give and take medium. This is the place where businesses have to listen to their customer. If you give up your power, it will only benefit you ihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifn the end. Join the collective and let your business succeed and create loyal customers for years to come.

For tips on how to best represent your business on social media, take a look at "Six Social Media Sins" by C. Edward Brice, Senior Vice-President, Worldwide Marketing Lumension.

Embrace Social Media Marketing, Don't Be Afraid

Everywhere you look, social media is being integrated in all sorts of businesses and their marketing campaigns. It can no longer be thought of as a trend, it is now a part of the daily grind for both the consumer and businesses.

For the consumer, this is the marketplace to receive trusted and unsolicited referrals to all sorts of information. Whether they’re reading about restaurants, babysitters, coupons, shopping, global news, or family updates, consumers are using their social media platforms as a means of staying informed.

Most businesses have caught on that this is a perfect place to reach their current and new customers and reach new demographics. A place where companies can create a dialogue and community that exists of a back and forth dialogue with people they're trying to market to. Marketing and advertising has turned into a "collective" process, where businesses are putting their pride aside and asking the people what they want and getting to know their customer. It breaks down the business/customer wall. This type of engagement and activity reaffirms and strengthens the consumer's loyalty to the company. It simply builds upon the brand and solidifies it.

There are many businesses that are still weary to drop their professional side. Through my consultant work, this is one of the most common statements I hear, "I don't want to ask my consumer questions because I don't want them to think I don't know what I'm doing." This question has no room in social media. Businesses are now in the conversational network that is very informal. Companies around the world, Windows, Intel, Comcast, just to name a few, have realized that with social media, telling consumers what they want will get you no where. Creating a dialogue between you and your customer, as well as asking for ideas, is not only beneficial in a company's community, it's a must.

Think of it this way, when you were in school, what were your favorite classes? Not the lectures or teachers that preached information to you, it was the discussions and interactive classrooms and teachers that really helped you learn and take pride in your education. This goes the same for social media marketing. It is a place for people to listen AND be heard and businesses need to understand that that's the way to get your brand built and followed. Give up control and hear what your customers are saying. It will only make you stronger!

If you build a great relationship with your community, the community will refer and promote your brand free of charge!