Looking for a relatively non-laborious and inexpensive tactic to grow your brand and your sales online? Consider the phenomenon of social media contests. They can be an effective strategy for increasing followers on social media sites. However, if not done correctly and under the right circumstances, these new followers are less likely to engage with the page again.

Here are 4 tips to help ensure that doesn’t happen:

1. Set a clearly defined goal that doesn’t involve simply increasing the number of your followers. A more efficient approach is to take your actual ROI into account in terms of new leads or conversions resulting from the contest. Contests can also be useful to conduct research or uncover a new consumer base. By offering a specific product as a prize, you can discern what target market draws the most interest.
   

   Before running a social media contest, it's a good idea to organize your thoughts and develop a plan. These tips can help you get started.

2. Choose the right prize that correlates with your end goal. If the goal of your contest is to increase your customer base, offering a shiny new iPad is probably not the best idea. However, if the goal is to boost user’s pictures on your page, then a new iPad could be an effective prize to attract contestants by choosing a winner based on the best submit.

3. Consider different strategies based on the level of consumer engagement. The amount of work required by entrants varies by the type of contest you’re running. Filling out a form has low involvement from the consumer and can generate more participants, but at a lower quality. However, a video contest has a high level of consumer engagement that draws more substantial contestants as well as sharing potential.

4. Make use of the results that you acquire during the contest. Often times when a contest is over, the marketer fails to take advantage of the great photos, videos, essays, comments and relationships gained. Create a photo or video gallery of the entries on your websites or other social pages. This can strengthen the relationship you’ve built with your customers and make your marketing more authentic.

The benefits of running social contests are clear:  They creative a positive consumer association with your brand by offering tangible rewards for participation. Contests also have the potential to encourage brand advocacy by informing consumers of new products and services. They can certainly be an effective tool if carefully planned and handled appropriately. So be sure to use these 4 tips and check out some additional information on Mashable.

Brittney Leigh Smith is a marketing analyst for the 60 Second Marketer.

Smartphones and tablets have changed the way that we do business. Not only do they provide real-time access to common Internet functions like email and web browsing, they can also provide access to important documents and other files via cloud-based storage providers. In fact, it’s becoming increasingly easy to do business using only your mobile devices.

Given that, here are some of the best mobile apps for business on the market today:

1. Dropbox. In the past year or so, online storage solutions have boomed. These solutions allow you to access files anywhere, any time. Leading the pack has been Dropbox. One of the reasons that Dropbox has been so successful when compared with other services such as Google Docs or iCloud is the fact that it’s truly cross-platform. You can access Dropbox via a web browser on almost any Internet-enabled device, or you can install the app for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry.
   

   Mobile apps are a great way to improve your productivity. Here are several apps we think you should know about.

2. Expensify. One of the most frustrating processes when it comes to business is keeping track of travel expenses and mileage. This app helps you do both of those, and more. Expensify provides the option to log mileage and even create expense reports. Perhaps the most interesting part about this app is the receipt-scanning system. Using your smartphone’s camera, Expensify is able to extract relevant information such as the date of purchase on the receipt as well as the amount. This app is available for most smartphones, including iOS devices, Android, Blackberry, and WebOS.
3. Keynote. If you use your iOS device for presentations, you need to have Keynote. This is the same presentation software found on the Mac, but it’s been reworked to run on mobile devices. There are a number of ways to use Keynote, such as using a composite video cable from your iPhone to connect to a projector, or even just displaying the presentation on your iPad. Keynote is available only on iOS devices.
4. Cardmunch. This app is great for when you’re at a conference, seminar, or other major networking opportunity. A service of LinkedIn, this app lets you scan and file business cards. Your smartphone’s camera captures the card, which is then pushed to your contact management program.
5. Hootsuite. If you do any amount of social media activity in your business, Hootsuite is one of the best ways to manage that activity. You can manage Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn feeds all within a single interface, making sure you don’t miss anything important. Hootsuite is available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and Keitai.
6. WebEx Meeting Center. Conference calls from your smartphone can have all of the flexibility of a desktop-based conference call with this Cisco app. Using the mobile version, you can share documents, view and show presentations, and more. You can even transfer your WebEx meeting from your mobile device to a desktop computer in a couple of simple clicks. This app is free, and runs on iOS devices, Android, and Blackberry. If you want to initiate a call, you do have to be a paying WebEx subscriber.
7. Flightboard. If you do any amount of travel, you need to have this app. Flightboard lets you look at real-time flight information for more than 4,000 airports around the world. It receives updates every five minutes, telling you whether or not a flight you’re going to use is on time, and even details like gate changes. Flightboard is available only on iOS devices.
8. HelloWallet. This relative newcomer to the scene provides the kind of flexibility that you want from a mobile financial app. While the app is designed primarily for personal financial uses, business travelers will fall in love with the location-based spending information that the app provides. This one is currently available as an iOS device app.
9. Kayak. Kayak gives you ready access to the best deals in flights. Not only that, it will let you create and manage an itinerary, look up baggage fees, provide you with airline phone numbers, and more.
10. Skype. Depending on your data plan, you may want to give Skype a try. You can use Skype to make and receive voice calls using the data network. It’s wonderful for when you have a WiFi connection. It also features a built-in chat feature, as well as the ability to have video chats. To turn your mobile phone into a full-fledged communications device, you should most definitely consider Skype.

If you want to turn your mobile device into a true asset for your business, be sure to check out some of these apps today. They’re easy to use and a great way to improve your productivity.

Athan Anas is the Direct Mail Coordinator at Vistage International, an executive coaching organization that helps CEO members build better companies through unique business coaching and executive development opportunities.

When I wrote Go Mobile (affiliate link) with Jeanne Hopkins from HubSpot, one of the statistics we referenced was this one from Gartner — by 2013, more than half of all internet visits will take place via mobile device.

It’s an amazing statistic. But despite that incredible prediction, more than 70% of all businesses in the U.S. don’t currently have a mobile website. Part of the problem is that many small- to mid-sized businesses don’t know where to start. They’re stuck in neutral because nobody has told them what they should do first.

If you’re interested in learning how to get started in mobile marketing, you might want to watch the short video interview below. In it, I answered a question posed to me by BMA Atlanta following my keynote presentation. The question was, “What are three things businesses should do to get started in mobile marketing?” The short answer I gave might provide you some food for thought as you move ahead with your mobile marketing plans.

You might also be interested in reading 25 Amazing Facts About Mobile Marketing and 25 Additional Facts About Mobile that You Should Know on the 60 Second Marketer blog. Both those posts have been very popular with our readers and I’m sure you’ll find them thought-provoking.

Enjoy the short video interview below. And keep us posted on what you’re doing to get started in mobile marketing!

Posted by Jamie Turner, Founder of the 60 Second Marketer and co-author of “How to Make Money with Social Media” and “Go Mobile.” He is also a popular marketing speaker at events, trade shows and corporations around the globe.

Running a social media campaign is a lot of fun. You get to connect with customers, grow your user base and create positive brand impressions all from the comfort of your own computer.

The problem happens when your boss knocks on your door and wants to see data supporting all the time and money you spend on social media. In other words, they want to know the ROI of your social media campaign.

The good news is that we’re going to answer that question (and a lot of other questions) at the Atlanta Inbound Marketing Conference scheduled for Thursday, May 10th. The event is designed to be a hands-on workshop where you can ask questions and get answers from some of the nation’s leading social media and mobile marketing experts.

Here’s just some of what will be covered during the event:

• 10:45 am: Registration

• 11:00 am: Jamie Turner, Author and Founder of 60SecondMarketer.com, Calculating the ROI of Your Social Media Campaign

• Noon: Kick-Off Lunch

• 12:30 Lunchtime Keynote: Nick Ayres, Manager, Social Marketing at IHG (Holiday Inn, InterContinental Hotels, Holiday Inn Express and others)

• 1:30 pm: Jeanne Hopkins, V.P. of Marketing, HubSpot, How to Create Scintilating Content that Generates Leads for Your Business

• 2:30 pm: Roundtable Discussions: Get detailed answers to specific questions about your business by asking experts in our hands-on, action-oriented Roundtable Discussions

• 3:30 pm:  Brent Leary: How to Build Social Media into Your Customer Service and Marketing Communications Strategy

• 4:30 pm: Jamie Turner: Getting Started in Mobile Marketing Quickly and Easily

• 5:00 pm: Cocktail and Hors d’Oeuvre Reception
  

• 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm: HubSpot User Group All-Star Panel Discussion

We’re really excited about having Nick Ayres who handles social media for Intercontinental Hotels Group, Jeanne Hopkins, who handles marketing for HubSpot and Brent Leary, who hosts the radio talk show “Technology for Business Sake” as some of our speakers.

If you’re trying to take your social media and mobile marketing to the next level and if you’re interested in meeting some of the nation’s leading experts and learning how to do that, then you won’t want to miss the Atlanta Inbound Marketing Conference.

The Early Bird Special Pricing discount ends May 3rd, so order your tickets today!

Your online presence is more than just your company logo. Branding your business online involves consistent visuals and personality.

Branding your emails is no different. Here are 5 points to keep in mind for consistent branding in your email campaign.

Subject Line

Even if you’re using your company name in the from line, repeating it in the subject line makes it easy for readers to identify your business. For example, the company This Week in Photo has subject lines that look like this:

[TWiP] The End of Medium Format Cameras?

The [TWiP] is included in front of all their subject lines. This company was part of a study I conducted on businesses with high open rates, and three companies in the study included something identifying their business at the front of the subject line.

Logo and Templates

As I said, just because the brand isn’t all about the logo doesn’t mean that the logo isn’t important. You should have your company logo at the top of every email. Try to coordinate your logo with the design of the template, allowing readers to easily recognize your email without reading anything.

Your brand should be reflected everywhere people come across your organization -- even via email.

Schedule

A lot of small business owners wonder when they should send their emails. A lot of marketing gurus will tell you when they think you should send emails. The best answer? Set your own schedule, and stick with it! If you send every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. then your audience will become used to it and make it part of their routine. You will have branded that time.

Tone

How you speak to people will affect their opinion of your brand. You can take a personal and friendly approach or a professional yet courteous business tone. There’s no right or wrong answer, but find a tone that works and stick with it.

Be Consistent!

You’ll notice that all of these points share one common element: consistency! People like when businesses are consistently good, so if your brand continues to provide exceptional service through helpful emails (and other channels, of course), you’re going to have many happy customers. The more they like your brand, the more they will share your information with others and the faster your business will grow.

Crystal Gouldey is an Education Marketing Associate at AWeber, the leading email service provider for small-to-medium businesses. Crystal’s spent the past three years teaching email marketers how to optimize their campaigns. She currently writes for the AWeber blog, which you can visit for more tips on marketing with email. Sign up here to get tips straight to your inbox.

In March, we uploaded a post called “10 Free Online Marketing Tools to Help You Grow Your Business.” It was so popular, that we decided to find 10 more free tools that can help you grow your business.

Here goes:

1. Facebook Insights: After you have created a Facebook Fan Page, you can use this tool to understand if your page is a success, if your content strategy is effective, and even who is engaging with you. The metrics provided can help you make decisions that would allow you to be better equipped to improve your business on Facebook and have effective interactions with your customers.

2. Topsy: A great social search engine that provides metrics for how many times a particular word or phrase is mentioned on the social web or in tweets. What sets Topsy apart from other similar tools is that it provides raw counts for both social web mentions as well as Twitter mentions.
   

   HubSpot has a variety of free tools on their MarketingGrader site.

3. Hubspot’s “Grader” Tools: Provides directional scores and metrics for channels including Twitter and Facebook (Twitter Grader and Facebook Grader) and assesses different aspects such as visitor retention and analytic efforts (Marketing Grader). The Grader Tools also provides recommendations on how to improve your web presence.

4. MarketMeSuite: A social media marketing dashboard that allows businesses and teams to manage their social media. It has marketing features that make it easy to manage all of your social websites in one dashboard.

5. OnlyWire BookMarklet: The only publicly available social bookmarking tool that submits to a handful of sites at the click of a button. With OnlyWire, submitting your content becomes fast and painless, since all of your social and professional network accounts are managed in one place.

6. Monitter: Allows marketers to look in on the Twitter conversations taking place about their brand in real time. It also allows you to narrow the search to a particular geographic location. Visit the Monitter home page and type in the keywords you want to search and all tweets with those keywords instantly appear.

7. Alltop: An online news aggregation service that scans blogs, news sites, and forums to present thousands of news stories about a certain topic or trend in one place.

8. Co-Tweet: A web-based social media management and analytics tool for businesses using Twitter to communicate marketing messages. The application offers Twitter account management and tweet publishing tools for brand accounts that utilize multiple contributors.

9. Seesmic: Allows you to review and publish status updates across Twitter and Facebook simultaneously, and manage multiple social media accounts in one place.

10.  Trello: Organization is important in any business and Trello is the ultimate collaboration tool to keep your projects in line by arranging them into different boards. In one glance, Trello tells you what’s being worked on, who’s working on what, and where something is in a process.

You don’t have to break the bank to take advantage of some great tools to help your business. By taking a look at some of the free tools mentioned above, you can organize your marketing efforts, analyze metrics to improve strategy, and follow online conversations about your brand that can all combine to better your online effectiveness.

Great new tools are created everyday, so keep yourself informed and look out for new updates in the future.

Brittney Leigh Smith is a marketing analyst at the 60 Second Marketer.