Archive for the ‘ Social Media ’ Category

Why can’t we be “friends?”

Having trouble keeping your Facebook “fans?” Forbes.com Blogger Susan Breslin has some insight into why. According to Breslin, end-users see right through you. In her article, she discusses five main reasons why you are losing fans, and because I would hate to keep you in suspense, I’ve included those reasons below:

  1. You don’t own your page.
  2. You’re trying too hard.
  3. You don’t get it.
  4. You’re boring.
  5. You’re a control freak.

I have to admit, reason number four kind of stings. Ouch. Don’t take these personally, though. Instead, remember what social media is all about. Engage your fans and get to know them. Don’t be overbearing. Social media allows you to be more flexible with your content and responses. Although you cannot control the conversation, you can definitely monitor and contribute to it. By contributing, you can alter the direction of the conversation.

People are going to talk about your brand online. Wouldn’t you rather they include you in the conversation by tweeting your company directly or posting on your Facebook wall?

In an April 2011 post, I also outlined a few reasons why your social media friends and followers aren’t following you back. Some of Ms. Breslin’s same comments apply. I outlined a few new ones as well. Take a look for yourself and feel free to add to the list.

Read my blog post.

How To: Increase your video views with 5 easy tips

Woman watching video

*Image courtesy of Webtvwire.com

According to comScore Media Metrix, a leader in measuring the digital world, 180 million U.S. Internet users watched online video content in July for an average of 18.5 hours per viewer. The total U.S. Internet audience engaged in a record 6.9 billion viewing sessions.

That’s a lot of eyes on a lot of videos. So, how can you knock your online video campaign out of the park? Mashable writer and VideoGenie founder Justin Nassiri has created a list of five helpful tips that are sure to increase your video view.

  • Location, location, location
  • Tap into your fan base
  • Share smartly
  • Gamify
  • Be authentic

Read the complete article here.

In the battle of social media mentions, Twitter has won.

Twitter King

*image courtesy of PositionKing.com

According to a recent post on PRDaily.com, a study from SEO firm Bright Edge analyzed 4 million tweets, and found that sites with Twitter share buttons had seven times more link mentions than sites without it. Yet, only 53.6 percent of websites display social links or buttons.

Additional research, however; shows us that Facebook is still the most popular widget with a 50.3 percent adoption rate. Twitter follows closely with 42.5 percent. Google+ sits at only 8 percent. Only LinkedIn remains flat at 4 percent.

Stats like these support the impact social media can have on a business or brand. With that being said, how do you share?

Download the complete Bright Edge Social Share report here.

Blogging Tips: 8 tips to help you make a living from blogging

Blogging TipsYou spend countless hours in front of your computer researching, writing, brainstorming and editing your blog and blog posts. Now, it’s time to see financial gain as a result of your hard work.

The New York Times recently highlighted a few bloggers who are making a living from what used to be their hobby. Based off their feedback, PRDaily has put together a list of eight tips for anyone looking to make a living from blogging.

1. Choose a book- or movie-friendly topic for your blog. Most of the bloggers who are raking in the most dough are those whose journeys have been optioned for the bookshelves and big screen.

2. “My advice is to choose a topic you’ll never get tired of,” Stephanie Nelson, founder of CouponMom.com, told the Times. This makes sense. If nothing becomes of your blog, you might not be making money, but at least you’ll have some fun along the way.

3. Learn how advertising happens on the Web. A major source of income for paid bloggers comes from ad revenue. For most writers, however, the business side of publishing doesn’t come naturally. Learn how Google AdSense works, and become familiar with companies likeBuySellAds.com and Federated Media, which help sites generate revenue.

4. Incorporate video on your blog. This ads another vehicle for advertisers, and it increases your potential exposure.

5. Sell memorabilia. According to the Times article, Hak5.org blogger Darren Kitchen makes $5,000 a month selling stickers, T-shirts, computer hacking tools, and baseball caps through his site.

6. Charge for premium content. One blogger told the Times he brought in $150,000 a month by charging for tutorials and e-books.

7. Ask for donations. As long as you don’t mind resorting to the Web’s version of panhandling, it’s apparently OK to ask readers to donate to your cause.

8. Organize events. Bloggers are charging to lead destination workshops attended by readers.