What works on Facebook these days?

I've noticed that the organic reach can be increased if you follow few simple steps.
The main trend is... COLLABORATION.

1/ SHARE A POPULAR PHOTO/POST FROM A PAGE WITH BIG AUDIENCE

Not long ago, it didn't really matter if you published your own photo or shared somebody else's. But now, from my experience, popular photos from popular pages GET BIGGER REACH.

FB also changed the way it displays shared posts. Now, it looks more like a 'friendly handshake', before it looked like a 'slap in a face'. You get the idea...

2/ CREATE SHARING CIRCLES

I know it sounds odd to talk about circles on FB, but the idea is - collaborate with business, tag them and share their content, providing they share yours. Make sure this is a win/win situation (eg. kids product sharing what's on for families sharing healthy tips on nutrition).

3/ PROMOTE CONTENT WITH GIVEAWAYS

It looks like you can benefit from a shared audience on FB, so collaborate on giveaways, share and promote it.



What is the weakest link I've encountered?

As much as it sounds silly, many business still haven't secured their FB user name, meaning that if you want to mention them in your post, it's a real struggle. Also, don't forget to make it a reasonable one, especially if your regular business name is long.



READ ALSO: IF COST PER ACTION IS ON YOUR MIND

92 percent of marketers say that their social media efforts have generated more exposure for their businesses

Social Examiner recently published a report about stats and trends for 2014. Have a look.

1/ INCREASED EXPOSURE

I am pleased this has been confirmed. Just don't forget to make the customer/sales life cycle work for you.

2/ VISUAL ASSETS

As mentioned before, attention span of an average customer is about eight seconds. Pictures and infographics help to engage and let the customer memorise your point.

3/ BLOGGING

Again, very happy this is being confirmed too. There were times I had to endlessly justify why blogging is important and what are main benefits of providing good quality content on blogs.

4/ GOOGLE+

Yes, I know, not many people are happy about this (and there's lots of rumours about Google+ being left to die slowly), but again - if you want good results in Google search, Google+ can help you enormously.

5/ PODCASTS

A rather new one for me as I'd expect videos to be more effective. I look forward to seeing what the next months will bring in podcasting.

6/ FACEBOOK ADS

It's a big yes from me. Facebook is most versatile of all mainstream social media channels. Targeting your audience is pretty straight forward. You see the stats, you can take your strategy further.

8/ ROI

 Well, there's a bit of confusion about Social ROI. Especially for businesses that can't use offers on regular basis. But if you improve event tracking and set sensible goals as a start, you'll get a good idea about what converts the best.



Infographics used via SocialMedia Examiner

READ ALSO: MARKETING GUIDE 2014

Local Search

Yesterday, I was trying to allocate the closest shop to get a basic microphone. NOT-A-SINGLE-LOCAL-RESULT! Check out these stats by Google Think

READ ALSO: SOCIAL NETWORKING TRENDS / MOBILE

How to stand out with Pinterest

I came across some really simple and creative examples of using Pinterest, so if you want to go beyond the usual pinning, hope this helps you getting started...

1) Pinboard Names and Covers

I wish I've thought of that. Creating a cover with a text layover provides much bigger visual impact. User is able to navigate through the cluttered pin world in a much more pleasant way.

2) Rich Pins with Foursquare

See how it's done. So much potential! Helps to bring community together and promote cooperation.

 

 

SEE ALSO: SOCIAL NETWORKING TRENDS

We will survive! Marketing guide for 2014

In 2013, the average consumer's attention span was just eight seconds. Try to create short-form videos, use striking images, include an irresistible call to action, spread an integrated message, show your ad on TV as well as FB at the same time...

• Think quality over quantity (100 people who care about your brand are better than 1,000,000 people who don't)
• Create ads that amuse and entertain, pull on the heartstrings, or solve a problem

READ ALSO: WHY YOUR CONTENT MARKETING INITIATIVES ARE FAILING

The 2014 Social Media Marketing Guide from Brand Networks

Key Commercial Trends for 2014 (UK) by Mintel

'A must watch' if you're in consumer goods and market research.




READ ALSO: LOYALTY TO BRANDS (UK)

How Social Media is Changing Business

In 10 years, social won’t even be a question. In the same way we don’t question using the internet to conduct business now, we won’t be questioning the use of social tools. It will be so ingrained that we’ll have a hard time imagining how we ever did anything without it.

Katie Douthwaite for The Daily Muse 

READ ALSO: AS TIMES MOVE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

Apparently, There Are Five Stages of Grief and Six Stages of Social Media Transformation

In my books, it's rather a never-ending story, but we all hope for a nice happy end. A lot of useful information to be found in this presentation.

Social media aggregation platform

Stackla: Does your social stack up? from Stackla on Vimeo.

Totally new level of social media -  STACKLA reports on your social data, turns your social followers into database contacts and provides a new platform for sponsor integration. Very clever!

Social Networking Trends

Social networking is the most popular online activity worldwide

Social networking behavior both transcends and reflects regional differences around the world

The importance of Facebook cannot be overstated

Microblogging has emerged as a disruptive new force in social networking

Local social networks are making inroads globally

It’s not just young people using social networking anymore – it’s everyone

‘Digital natives’ suggest communications are going social

Social networking leads in online display advertising in the U.S., but lags in share of dollars

The next disrupters have yet to be decided

Mobile devices are fueling the social addiction

ComScore  - BUILDING MORE INFORMED MOBILE STRATEGIES

READ ALSO: LOCAL SEARCH

Jingle bells and QR codes

Once upon a time, Santa was holding an iPhone, waiting for some children to be greeted. A child came along and added some toys to the wishlist, just on the spot, on the phone.

Not that I would be a fan of such Christmas, but the possibilities are fascinating. The right combination - signage/QR code or signage/screen - seems like a sensible and forward-thinking win/win solution. If nothing, more sophisticated leaflets are the way to go if you need to get people online.

Check this out:



This Christmas, Wallmart came up with a pop-up shop offering Barbie dolls, toy cars and Hot Wheels racetracks... in the subway station, Union Station in Toronto. 

It's like choosing things from the shop windows, just the customers do not have to go inside the shop. Walmart asked kids, which toys they liked most (via Twenties Christmas hits) and included the top choices in its pop-up store.

The clever idea is not only that people do not have to go inside shops, but they can choose when to stop and it's done via their smart phones (and orders can be tracked down instantly too).

That just makes me wonder, who will be the first one in Australia to come up with such a concept.

View original post on BrandingCh.

Twitter sharpening its beak

Somebody said that Instagram is for people who can't read. Another said that pictures say more than a thousand words. Twitter is one territorial bird and Instagram can be seen as a cuckoo application. Well, yes or no. But I agree that getting own photo app would be a smart move.

''Although adding photo filters to Twitter may seem like a trivial addition to a social network that processes nearly a billion 140-character missives every two days, it could prove to be an important part of the company’s business.'' NY Times Blog

Well, it is not only about having THAT idea. In my opinion, it is the execution and integration of right elements. You do not have to go far for such examples. I remember a web based photo editing app called Picnik which was eventually bought by Google as a new editing tool for Google+. Unfortunately it never really caught on and left many loyal Picnik users angry.

Marketing with 'gaming' is the new thing

''Kinect for Xbox 360 is changing the game. Well, it’s changing how you play games. And how you watch TV. And movies. And listen to music. Because with Kinect, there are no controllers. Or remotes. There’s just you. And if you ask us, that’s all you need'' Kinect.com

Let me get you an update on this. KINECT IS CHANGING THE MARKETING GAME. We talk about social media and how it is going to have big impact on everything. What we forget is the fact that digital intelligence (clever screens in particular) can enormously influence customers' experience and purchase decisiveness - from bus stops to window shopping.

Many brands, including Nike and Topshop, are at the starting point of this race for customer's attention. It will be interesting to see who will get out of breath first - if the customer or the retailer.




Imagine being able to try twenty-two dresses in two minutes. Or try how that gorgeous bag looks in your hand. And share the look on facebook or other social media.

Another clever but expected example of integration Kinect in branding is Nike's Kinect Training for Xbox. You bet that a person using this will not wear Addidas outfit.