Posts tagged ‘Social Networking’

July 14th, 2011

Top 10 Marketing Tips to Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage

LinkedIn is a great social networking tool for businesses, recruiters, marketers and professionals wishing to connect and establish relationships. Many users sign up to be a part of the professional community but are unclear as to how to establish connections and use this tool to their advantage.

AccountingDegree.com filled us in on some top tips to amp up your LinkedIn profile. I’ve broken down the top 10 that will help you get connected, establish meaningful relationships and use this tool to your full advantage.

1. Brand yourself: You don’t want to get lost in the mix, so it’s important to make your presence known. How? For starters, always make sure you have an updated professional photo to help create a personal connection with others. Personalize your URL link, it’s a great way to make yourself more marketable versus keeping the random URL given to you by LinkedIn. Include a summary so those connecting with you can learn more about you and your experiences. Think of this as your mini commercial selling yourself to businesses and marketers.

2. Increase your Visibility: LinkedIn ranks high in terms of page ranks in Google. Best way to get your profile more visibility is to make your information public by selecting “Full View” in settings. This increases your chances of coming up in search engines and gives you a greater possibility to connect with more professionals and companies.

3.  Promote yourself: LinkedIn allows you to publicize your profile so use this to your advantage. You can also create a LinkedIn signature to include when you comment on blogs or other social platforms. It’s a great way to get your profile out there across multiple social mediums.

4. Groups: Start a group or get involved in a group, either way this is an area you want to be involved in. When you start a group you become the “connector” and center of the conversation. It’s a great way to let people know your strengths and create a community of people with similar interests that can ultimately help you expand your personal database.

5. Applications: There are lots of great LinkedIn applications out there, however for all you bloggers, WordPress blog RSS is the cream of the crop. This app gives you the ability to syndicate your blog through your profile so those connected with you can view your blog and be updated with new posts and information.

6. Events: Connect with your fellow LinkedInners beyond the social networking page. From conferences to happy hours there is always something going on in the business world and you should be a part of it. Check out events in your area and view the RSVP list so you know who will be in attendance. Message your connections and let them know you will be there too.

7. Be a Resource: Listen to your connections questions and show that you can be of service to them. Show them what can you and your company bring to the table. Introduce your connections with others and become the “connector” and a person of resource. It’s a great way to grow your influence on LinkedIn.

8. Use Keywords: It’s the same concept when you are publishing blogs or websites, you want your link to appear as an answer to whatever keyword was entered into the search engine. Pick some keywords that you want to be associated with when searched. Use these words in your public profile to increase awareness about your brand or company and improve your search ranking.

9. Repurpose Content: So, what does this mean? Post content and mentions about you or your company on LinkedIn to spread the word and brag a little big about your accomplishments. Company Buzz is a great tool that sifts through Twitter to find whose talking about your company and what’s being said. Highlight these mentions on your profile and add to the buzz.

10. Customer Company Profile: This customizable page option helps company’s enhance their recruiting tactics and provide a targeted experience for potential connections. Through this tool a company can provide prospective employees with updated career information as well as participate in recruiting efforts.

Posted by Rebecca Wilson, Marketing Analyst for the 60 Second Marketer.

CategoryLinkedIn, Marketing Best Practices, Marketing Techniques, Marketing Tips, SEO, Social Media | Comment4 Comments »

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July 13th, 2011

What You Need to Know About Google+

We have made our Kindergarten teachers proud. After the countless scuffles over playground toys and ear-shattering tantrums debating whose turn it is, it seems that this generation has embraced their teachings like no generation before us. We have truly mastered the art of sharing.

We can’t go five seconds without checking in on Facebook, posting photos to Instagram, or Tweeting our latest thought, and now, it appears we will be adding Google+ to the growing list of sites we compulsively check.

A Quick Look At Google+

Do you think Google+ will be the success that Google is hoping for?

After several underwhelming forays into the social realm, many analysts are speculating that this time, Google has gotten it right. Despite the fact that invites to the site have been limited, some 3rd party sources are estimating that the new network has already reached 10 million users and might hit 20 million by the weekend.

So what makes Google+ so intriguing? Despite many conflicting theories on this matter, the main draw for Google+ appears to be the fact that they have new, cool features that attempt to address some of the shortcomings of Facebook.

First, the Circle feature allows you to instantly create groups amongst your friends or centered around common interests called “Sparks.” You can then share specific content with only the people in that particular circle. Annoyed that your mom, grandmother, professor and boss all just friended you on Facebook? On Google+, you can put them all in a specific circle and share updates about studying, attending church, or cooking while saving the pics from your weekend trip to Vegas for another circle.

Another new and different feature is the “hangout” feature for when you want to interact with your friends live. Though Facebook recently announced they are partnering with Skype to come out with a video chat feature, Google+ beat them to the punch with “hangouts.” Just let your friends know that you’re free for a “hangout” and you can join as many friends in a video chat as your heart desires.

In addition to these features, some people on Google+, including Digg founder Kevin Rose and writer MG Seigler, reported that the real-time comments section and +1 feature (which has been available on search pages and other web properties for several months now) are good for driving more interaction with their followers.

However, there are some downsides. Many Google+ people complained that their feeds could easily get spammed with content and comments from other followers, making it difficult to find information. Additionally, users are surprised to see a few key components missing, such as a search functionality, iPhone access, and perhaps most importantly, profiles for businesses.

Google has declared that they will be coming out with business profiles soon, complete with deep analytics and the ability to integrate with AdWords, but as of now they are asking brands to refrain from creating profiles on the network. This, in combination with the fact that there is currently no paid advertising space, has some people wondering how Google+ will affect marketers.

The impact on marketers is hard to determine and much is yet to be seen in the way that Google+ will grow, but for now it’s simply a new tool in our marketing tool belt. According to Raphael Rivilla from BKV, “Google+ is very cool, so some people will migrate, but there will be others that won’t. This is just yet another place to interact with our targets.”

Posted by Nicole Hall, Account Manager with Mobilize Worldwide. Mobilize Worldwide develops mobile apps, mobile ad campaigns, mobile websites and just about anything else related to mobile marketing for brands interested in growing their sales and revenue using this new and emerging medium.

CategoryFacebook, Google, Social Media | Comment6 Comments »

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June 11th, 2009

5 Tips on How to Use Social Networking Tools Without Forgetting the Relationship

WebDiceSocial networking offers endless potential for companies to promote and build their business online. But savvy businesses should remember “social” is just as important as “networking” when it comes to using tools like Twitter and LinkedIn, marketing expert and entrepreneur Drew Gerber says.

“While the new social networking tools are a powerful way to reach a lot of people, what really makes a difference is the personalized touch,” says Gerber, CEO of Blue Kangaroo and creator of PitchRate.com.

It’s a little like that bestselling book by Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, according to Gerber. “To be successful with social networking, you have to play well with others.”

Here are 5 tips on how to use social networking tools without forgetting the relationship aspect:

1.  Share your goodies: To be successful with social networking, remember to provide valuable information that people can use. Provide 12 things of value for every one thing you are getting back.

2.  Take interest in others: Engage with people online just as you would if you were building a business relationship one on one. If someone comes in and all they want to do is promote, promote, promote themselves, it doesn’t go anywhere.

3.  Be polite: People have a tendency to say things online they would not say face to face. Avoid that pitfall, and don’t say anything you wouldn’t want your parents to read.

4.  Make sure everyone is included: If you are participating in an online discussion, let other people have a chance to share their ideas and perspectives and wait your turn.

5.  Have fun and be creative: Think of ways you can share information about your product, your business or yourself that are fun and make people want to follow you.

These tips work because social networking is all about building community, Gerber says. “Just like the community you live in offline, the people that have a say are the people who are engaging and really provide value for the community,” he adds.

To learn more visit: www.PitchRate.com.

For articles or interviews, send requests to Jennifer@publicityresults.com or 239-573-0088.

CategoryGeneral Marketing | Comment3 Comments »

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December 3rd, 2008

How to Use Social Networking Sites for Marketing and PR

Social Networking and Social Media are so hot right now, they make the email marketing buzz from a few years ago seem like child’s play.

Gartner Research came out with something called the Gartner Hype Cycle not long ago. In it, they discuss how new technologies go through a period of inflated expectations before they settle into a “plateau of productivity.”

If you’re interested in reading more about Social Networking and Social Media, you can also check out this article from The New York Times. In it, they profile several people who have used Social Networking very effectively. They also include a set of guidelines to make sure your networking remains productive.

Enjoy.

CategoryGeneral Marketing | CommentNo Comments »

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