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A 2014 Social Media Guide: New Trends and Solutions to Live By

A 2014 Social Media Guide: New Trends and Solutions to Live By

by | Jan 14, 2014 | Social Media

In 2013, the importance of social media in a successful business marketing plan became undeniable. According to Eloqua, “a reported 78 [percent] of companies now have a dedicated social media team.” As we step into 2014, we continue to see the emergence of new social platforms and the impact that a strong social media presence can have on our business. In all likelihood, we can expect Eloqua’s reported percentage to grow ever upward.

 

How Social Media Evolved in 2013 and What to Expect in 2014

 

Throughout 2013, we watched as social media platforms evolved into cutting edge marketing tools. Twitter is now considered a strong marketing tool by over 90 percent of marketers, who now use it regularly to generate new and return business. The Twitter network boasts a stunning 232 million active users, who manage to send a jaw dropping 500 million tweets per day! Twitter also launched Vine, their version of a video tool, during 2013.

In the past year, Facebook expanded their advertising platform and continued video ad testing. Meanwhile, Instagram celebrated a big year thanks to their introduction of a video and paid advertising program to their social platform. Also, a steady increase in picture and video sending popularity surfaced in the past year, indicating an interesting new inclusion of these marketing trends in future marketing strategies.

 

The Top 3 Social Media Trends for 2014

A review of social media marketing in 2013 has produced several “must have” trends for every 2014 marketing plan. As you round out your marketing budgets and put the finishing touches on your well planned strategies, here’s what you need to know in order to reach your customers more effectively in the New Year:

  1. Thoroughly understand your audience and product or service. In 2009, the University of California published a report in which they concluded that the average person sees over 34 billion bits of information every day. 34 billion bits of information equates to reading approximately two books per day. As a result of processing so much information, people are beginning to tune out; their attention is becoming a rare commodity. What does this mean for you? It means you need to have an acute understanding of your audience and how your product or service relates to them. In a high “Pinterest-ized” social media world, you need a visual, shareable message that demands and holds limited attention within seconds.
  2. Mobilized material is a must. People are leaving desktop technology behind and flocking to their smart phone and tablet devices. The Pew Internet & American Life Project published a research paper in which they determined over 90 percent of Americans own a mobile device, and 57 percent of them surf the Internet with those devices. Smart phones are quickly outnumbering other types of technology, ushering in what many are dubbing “the mobile revolution.” It is imperative that businesses take their digital properties beyond mere mobile optimization in 2014. Digital properties need to be responsive and adaptive, able to fluidly change and respond to the viewing capabilities of any mobile device. Audiences are also expecting the delivery of real time information based on relevance and location, which means digital properties must be search engine optimized for local search parameters. Audiences are expecting one-to-one personalization, and mobile technology is handing business owners the ability to give it.
  3. Out with analytic and in with predictive tools. Thus far, we have grown accustomed to simple analytic tools, the ones that give us basic information. Today, we are rapidly moving into the era of predictive tools. Predictive means that today’s tools use diverse techniques from data mining, machine learning, modeling and statistics to drive the analysis of current and historical information, thereby making predictions. It’s currently too early to tell exactly how this trend will evolve in 2014, but one thing is certain: simple tools no longer excite. The world and its audience are looking for ways to use all of the diverse data at their fingertips, meaning predictive technologies will find new traction in 2014.

 

These three general trends for 2014 all focus on a simple concept: effectively understanding and reaching your audience wherever they will be found. We can expect 2014 to be the year of positive customer experience and exemplary customer service.

 

3 Social Media Trends to Incorporate in Your Marketing Strategy

2013 has seen the most changes and largest leaps forward in social media advertising. 2014 promises to be a year of even grander developments. As a result, there are three trends in social media advertising you need to jump on board with:

  1. Facebook Video Ads. Twitter has been the big talk of 2013, and for some of us the appeal of Facebook has waned. Now is the time to rekindle the Facebook flame. Video advertising is turning into a huge 2014 social media marketing trend, as it rightfully should. After all, television advertising is still a fundamental tool in the modern advertiser’s toolbox. The world is shifting their television habit to the cyber world, which means video advertising is shifting alongside it. Facebook has been testing video advertising for a while now. They prominently feature videos in their feed organically. Their testing looks to increase in 2014, meaning video advertising is about to play a much larger role in Facebook ads after New Year’s. Overall, Facebook has become an undiscovered, underused advertising gem to many businesses that have had tunnel vision on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. You can find a few fantastic tips for boosting the popularity of your brand or business by reading our 3 Awesome Web Content Tips… blog.
  2. Twitter Ads. There’s no denying that Twitter had a big year in 2013. The platform grew substantially, even filing for and successfully completing their IPO (Internal Public Offering). Marketers the Internet over all agree: we can expect big things from Twitter. In 2013, Twitter awed us with a successful overhaul of their advertising interface and an increase in targeting functionality. They launched TV ad targeting, creating impressive Lead Generation Cards. Since their IPO in October 2013, Twitter has kept their momentum. 2014 promises to be a year where we see use of tailored audiences, accounts promoted in timelines and a real “broad match” for keyword targeting. Now that Twitter is bound by shareholders, we can expect development of this platform to continually exceed expectation because advertisement revenue equates to happy shareholders.
  3. The Possibility of Google+ Ads. When it comes to creating a successful online marketing campaign, those of us in the business know that Google is the All-powerful, Almighty Decision Maker. Google sets the SEO trends, maps out the dos and don’ts of online marketing, and swoops down with fury upon anyone deliberately cheating the system for rankings. It’s been somewhat surprising that Google+, Google’s personal social media platform, has been missing ads. 2014 may be the year this changes. Google has unveiled their new project: testing of +Post Ads. It’s important to note that based on the information currently available, this is not an ad unit on Google+. Rather, it allows businesses and brands to use quality Google+ posts and advertise them across the Google Display Network. 2014 should prove to be an exciting year as this project is tested.

 

Top Marketing Solutions for 2014

2014 is no doubt the first year in which marketers will be challenged to take into consideration a mountain of different technological tools, devices and new digital solutions—all of which will no doubt rapidly evolve throughout the year as development teams’ continue to trudge forward. If your goal is to effectively reach more customers, fans and even investors in 2014, here’s what you need to know:

  1. Video marketing is in. Over 50 percent of all web traffic has become video-based. Audiences feel they can make a more positive purchasing or investing decision after viewing a video. You cannot afford to ignore this in 2014. Video advertising should be catchy, short and simple because you’re fighting to demand attention from a world where attention is an increasingly rare commodity.
  2. Mobile marketing is a new cornerstone. According to a study released in early 2013, nearly 40 percent of time spent on the Internet is via some sort of mobile device, and this percentage is forecasted to increase. Mobile marketing is no longer a marginal feature; it’s a necessity. Therefore, the digital platforms and marketing solutions you choose to invest in this year must be mobile friendly, responsive and adaptive. The good news is that most digital platforms and themes are now designed to scale appropriately with mobile devices. However, you should confirm this ability through your own testing, never assume anything is mobile until your confirm it.
  3. Offline material is just as important as online. 2014 is the marketing year of connectivity. In other words, your business needs offline print solution designed to connect the audience to your social channels and online tools. A fantastic feature for accomplishing this is a QR code. QR code generators look to be incorporating color printing and even images in 2014. Aside from this, it looks like it’s finally time to ditch fax numbers for Twitter handles, and prominently present your social and website information throughout business presentations, white papers, etc.
  4. Revise and incorporate SEO (search engine optimization) practices. Even though the world of SEO has been growing and evolving in leaps and bounds over the past five years, many business owners still scratch their heads when discussing it. In 2014, SEO becomes more easily understandable to even the most reclusive of professionals. Google has made SEO all about quality and relevant content, audience appeal, social media activity, customer voice (reviews, testimonials, etc.) and a small smattering of keywords directly related to your business. If you haven’t already, it’s time to review the new best practices of SEO and bring your content in line with them.
  5. Use social media strategically. At this point in time, we can safely assume that people understand the need for an active social media presence. Unfortunately, many seem to falsely believe that starting a profile and drumming up discussion about themselves is all that’s required. However, it’s imperative to realize that social media marketing—the successful kind—cannot be self-centered. You need to integrate your social media presence with other marketing tools and engage your customers and fans. A truly incredible example of using social media to its fullest is demonstrated by Starbucks. Not only do they understand how to use the most popular social media options, but they also dedicated an entire page of their website to customer-based product and service ideas called, My Starbucks Ideas. The ideas are voted on and the company’s blog gives updates on the adopted suggestions. Now that’s using social media to engage the audience, market a product and promote a company!
  6. Create an online presence that engages and inspires. In 2014, marketing and public relations will shift from a focus of winning customers to goals of gaining investors and supporters to push their company’s online presence to a new and exciting level. This shift involves creating an interconnected online presence that inspires fans while engaging potential customers and investors to buy. Developing a professional, clean website and a strong logo are a start, but as you’ve seen in this guide, building a social media presence will be a new cornerstone to marketing and public relations.

 

Stay Onboard in 2014

The world of social media is anything but static. 2014 promises to be a year filled with exciting new development, cutting-edge techniques for reaching precisely targeted audiences and more. We can expect advertising campaigns to grow increasingly more visual, and interconnectivity to become a new marketing standard.

As you can see, the social media ship for 2014 has set sail with new trends and marketing solutions. It’s not too late to jump onboard, and it’s obvious not doing so could capsize your business endeavors. So, will you be onboard with the rest of us as we sail into the exciting new technological era of audience focused social media marketing?

 

 

How to Create Killer Seasonal Content For Your Social Media & Blogs

How to Create Killer Seasonal Content For Your Social Media & Blogs

by | Jan 8, 2014 | Social Media

So the holidays are here—we are in the thick of it. Did you hit a store on Black Friday to buy five TVs you didn’t need just because they were on sale? How fun was it fighting the masses of people bumping into one another? Well imagine how it is on the business themselves. Are you a business owner? Either way the holiday rush leaves little time to attend to things like social media.
Now for businesses, social media and blogs are great promotional tools. As a business owner these should not be abandoned just because of the holidays. In fact, it can be a fun way to get people in the doors. Who is up for a surprise sale? “10% discount for the next hour.” Think of offers that get people engaged and entices them to come in “NOW”.

Creating Content Over the Holidays: 6 Social Media Tips For Businesses

For the average Joe and Jane your social media and blog content can probably use a holiday break. But it is a valuable tool for you. Sure, it isn’t about money or getting your customers in the doors. Do you have family that lives far away though? How about friends you haven’t seen in years? They probably want to know what is going on with you and your family. Your parents in Fort Lauderdale want to see pictures of the grandkids in Flagstaff.  So in a way it is important for you to be proactive on social media and your blog this holiday season and next.

But the busyness of the season! How do you find the time to do it right?

Let’s start by assuming you are a business

(If you are not a business then read these for fun and move on to the you are a person category.)

1. Don’t spread yourself too thin. Once upon a time there was one social network and you could check in once a day and that was that. Now there are one dozen (at least). Update Facebook, Tweet this, Instagram that, so on and so on. It can be a full time job updating all of this stuff, just ask any 13 year old girl who spends 24/7 online.
Focus on the biggest social networks and the places where you have the most frequency. Don’t worry about updating every single page you maintain with social media content and blog content. Jon Henshaw, who is an internet-marketing expert, encourages his readers to, as he puts it “leverage social networks.” If you absolutely can’t find the time, a recent article on Small Business PR discusses 3rd party tools that can be used to post on your social sites at predetermined times.

2. Think ahead. You have a million things going on. Not only are you managing the needs of your business for the holidays, but that of your family too. Why not add trying to figure out what to post or blog about on top of all of that. We recently discussed maintaining a content flow during the holidays (by planning ahead) in three of our five discussion points. How do you add more onto an already unstable pile of tasks?

  • Before bed take ten minutes to think up some things to post tomorrow
  • Keep it simple with things that require followers to build content. Polls and contests are good.
  • Photographs. They take no time and little effort. Shots of holiday dishes, sales, etc.
  • Plan way ahead and in September and October prepare a list of subjects. Remember they must cover Halloween to New Years.

3. Branch out. Step outside the box of your normal content. The holiday season is a fun time, so be fun with it. Find or create funny holiday photos to post to your social media page or blog. Do you own a motorcycle dealer? Then fire up Photoshop and pop Santa on a Harley. Normally you wouldn’t post silly stuff like this, but this time of year people want to enjoy themselves.
Consider what you offer as well. It’s a season of giving right? So give. If you are running a retail business then go ahead and offer some exclusive deals. Give out a coupon code to your Facebook fans. How about a Twitter contest? Whoever retweets your post can be entered to win a free dinner at your restaurant.

4. Consider a cause. Once again it is the season for giving. Thanksgiving and Christmas brings about a lot of focus to charities and noble causes. Pick a charitable cause that is unique to your business or that means something to you. Now get on your social media pages and promote it. This does three valuable things.

  • Gives you content to talk about
  • Shows that you are not just a business but rather a community partner
  • Ties in to deals. Donate to this cause and receive 10% off any one entrée.

There are literally thousands of causes out there.
Small businesses in particular should choose a cause that supports the local community.

5. Your blog is your solution. How does your business influence the holiday season? Do you run a restaurant? Then your blog content can discuss holiday meal solutions. Not everyone cooks, so maybe you offer up a complete holiday dinner. Hot and ready for your dinner table, only $12.99 per. What about writing a blog sharing your cooking tips? Come on, celebrity chefs do it. Write a blog post and give your readers a great recipe to include with their holiday meal.

6. Appreciate the people who make it possible. You can offer all the deals in the world and share all the helpful hints you can think of. The easiest thing to do though is be thankful. The fans of your business likely spend their money with you and make you successful. So do you want a brilliant idea to talk about in your seasonal social media content? Take the time to write your fans/customers a letter. You can say “thank you” when they make purchases with you. However, even a paragraph about how much their patronage means to you will do wonders. People love to feel like they are part of something and love to feel their efforts are worth something. Let them know you appreciate them, because the truth is without them you wouldn’t be in business.

Creating Content Over the Holidays: 6 Tips For The Other People

So that was a look at some ways businesses can optimize their social media posts during the holiday season. Not everyone runs a business though. Remember we discussed letting far away family and friends know you are thinking of them? Amid shopping, and kid’s school concerts, and pretending you want to be stuck at work during the holidays – how can you do the most to be sociable?

1. Time management and relevance. Just like the small business owner, you are busy. If you have kids they have school activities. You have to take care of your Christmas shopping. I can go on and on with the extra tasks that the holiday season puts upon us. Make a schedule though and find the time to reach out to the important people in your life. Don’t forget to wish your old friends a happy holiday or to share photos of your kids with Santa.
At the same time post things that are relevant. Everyone loves to share a crazy news story or funny photo, but is this the best use of your time? If you are bargaining your time online then focus on your holiday social media posts and leave the other stuff for after the New Year.

2. Extend your reach. It can be hard when families are apart of distance comes between old friends. That is just a reality of life and the holiday time makes it harder. Social media has opened up a new way to bridge these gaps. Sure it won’t bring your family to the same house for Christmas dinner, but it can allow you to interact just the same. Share holiday photos on Facebook and Instagram. Have you thought about video recording your kids opening their gifts on Christmas and sharing it with far away family? Just as the internet and social media are popular ways for businesses to reach out, the everyday person can use it for the same reason.

3.  Theme your blog content. While you may not be a business owner, it is very possible you run a successful blog. What is it about? Let’s use cooking as an example. The holiday seasons deal a lot with food. No kidding, right? Theme your cooking blog though to the holiday in question.

  • July 4th- The best homemade Bar-B-Q sauce to complete any meat you can grill
  • Halloween- Spooky sugar cookie ghosts your kids will never fear
  • Thanksgiving- spruce up boring mashed potatoes with
  • Christmas- Holiday treats for guests of every taste

These are examples but they make the point. Just as you decorate different ways for each holiday theme, your blog content should share that same theme.

4. Give the gift of you. During holiday time people can read the same boring blogs about the same boring topics. Before sitting down at the keyboard and typing up your next blog, think about you. What sets you apart? Why do people read your blog in the first place? Don’t give your readers the same run of the mill stuff that everyone else is doing, put your personality into it.
And you may be thinking “my blog is about sports betting (just an example) how does that relate to Christmas?” The simple answer is it doesn’t. Now the trick is to put a spin on it and figure out how it can. You write a highly successful blog here, right? Then you must be a creative person. So use that creativity and find ways to theme your posts to relate to the season at hand. It may take some extra thought, but it will be unique. Guess what unique does? It gets people’s attention.

5. Don’t overdo it. Sure this is all about getting the most out of your seasonal social media and blog content. The thing to remember though is if that seasonal time can mean 4th of July, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. All of these times are times in which giving the most of you to your family is important. So by all means share the necessary photos and send the cheerful holiday wishes. Know when you are done though. Plan all of your seasonal social media activity ahead of time so when the holiday arrives you can step away from the computer and enjoy some valuable family time.

6. Open up shop. You may not be a business owner; however the holiday season can be the perfect time to do some business. Seasonal items can bring in extra money for the holiday season. The thing about them is they serve a limited market. These are things like crafts, baked goods, snow removal, decorating services, lawn care, and mobile auto detailing. Granted some of these like lawn care and auto detailing can be done year round in warmer climates like the South West. Nonetheless, these types of businesses while hectic to run, can bring in a lot of extra money.
So how does social media play into these seasonal businesses? You are not opening a storefront, and you’re not designing a website just to sell stuff for three months. Sites like Facebook are a great alternative to a web based store. In fact it can be better. You can show photos and descriptions of each of your products and interact with customers. Facebook sharing features allows your items to be shared with anyone. You post a photo of your item, your sister shares it to ten people; at least six of them share it with four people. Get the idea?

Use these tips to get your seasonal business going on Facebook and other social media posting sites.

  • Post regularly and be active. Your business has a shelf life (sorry to say it) so overkill is not a bad thing in this sense. You are trying to sell as much as possible in a small window of time.
  • Do not use your personal accounts. Nobody needs to see a funny high school reunion photo in-between your product posts.

 

  • Consider the ad tools that Facebook and others offer. It may cost you a few dollars but the return can more than compensate it. Come on, where else can you get online ad space for under $30.00?

All in all, social media and blog posts are about being social—no matter the season. A little thought and a lot of heart will take you a long way.