Listen to the Voices!

Brand voices go big. Notice. We didn’t say brand “voice” but rather brand “voices”. There is a big difference! Traditional marketing firms have made it a cornerstone of nearly ever campaign over the past century to create a compelling brand voice. It’s all about to change thanks to social media marketing. In fact, some experts have gone so far as to claim that brand voice (singular) could be a liability because it fails to include the input of society at large…ie, it’s isolationist in a social world. That may be going a bit too far but the point is well taken; brand voice needs to include – and be echoed – by the entire community of clients. Not merely your business or advertising campaign. Social communities, user groups, consumer advocates and others are all a growing part of brand voices. In fact, the creation of major social media marketing campaigns are specifically designed to enhance brand voices (plural), taking the job of advertising and marketing out of the boardroom and into the community at large.

East Coast Vs. West Coast

A lot has been written about timing; as a social media marketing firm, we understand the importance of reaching people at the right time in order to maximize impact but it’s not as easy as it sounds. In fact, trying to select the perfect time might require a bit of trial and error depending upon the industry, geographic distribution of the company and clients, competition for attention from other social media source and even time zone. However, there is one time slot that is all but forgotten: 10 PM Eastern.

Why the near blackout at 10PM ET? In part, it’s due to the perception that nobody is out there…but wouldn’t the lack of competition make this a perfect time to post? Let’s break it down and see…

Easter Time Zone. 10 PM. It’s the time when most eastern households are finishing up for the day and sitting down to watch a bit of television or getting ready for bed. Fair enough; not exactly exciting but research shows that a significant number of people use a tablet, cell phone or other device to interact on social media while watching television. Hmmmm….

What about the west coast? 10 PM ET = 7 PM. Those on the west coast are just getting home from a hard day’s work after being stuck in traffic and multi-tasking all day long. They want to chill-out and spend a few minutes with family before tackling chores, dinner and other duties. Of course, social media is increasingly the preferred method of interacting with friends and family so again, the results are quite as clear cut as they might initially appear.

What about Asia? Those that work with an international clientele might actually have a distinct advantage by scheduling 10 PM postings since it’s mid-morning throughout much of Asia; the time when most people take a quick break to check their favorite social site.

Will it apply to the Middle Easy or Europe? Although much of the middle east and Europe are still in the dark at this time, there is a high likelihood a 10PM post would encounter less competition by being viewed first thing in the morning when waking.

So, what’s the best time to post? There isn’t a one size fits all solution but rather a “best fit” for each individual small business owner. However, it’s equally clear that no time period…even the highly ignored and nearly blacklisted 10PM ET zone slot should be dismissed without careful consideration.

Social Media Help Services

Last but not least, a little item about LeBron James hiring social media help caught our attention. With 10 million Facebook followers and 4 million Twitter fans, James is a powerful social media mover and shaker so it’s no surprise, he has signed up for professional help. What’s more surprising is the number of less than celebrity status individuals seeking the assistance of social media professionals. In short, an entirely new category of help is gaining ground…the social media concierge. Often less than a full service vendor but more than just a helping hand, a social concierge handles those items that individuals find too time-consuming or mundane in order to focus on interaction and engagement with followers and fans. What type of people are using these services? Anyone and everyone ranging from financial managers to self-help guru’s, celebrities and nearly every type of personal service provider in between.

Social media marketing is the only kind of marketing which creates a sustained, long-term relationship with a client which also yields impressive secondary and/or indirect results via their affiliations and relationships. In the past when a small business owner printed out 10,000 post cards to mail to clients, it was rare for their friends and family (much less other business associates or acquaintances) to see the postcard. If the client itself even read it, it typically went in the trash after the first view. Yet social media marketing, by its very nature, is social. It automatically shows up in the affiliations of each and every contact made and has the potential to influence hundreds – if not thousands – of friends and family members associated with each original client. That residual value is just one aspect of social media marketing that is totally unlike any other options and why here at Wizard Media we highly recommend every business have a social media marketing strategy in place.

Of course, no printing or postage costs are also attractive features in our above example, but social media actually goes beyond saving money and is actually able to make money. For instance, it’s well known among many marketing circles that once a company reaches a point of critical mass, their own contacts and connections become incredibly valuable assets in their own right. It’s comparable to a lawn company or other service industry…the client list is as important – if not more important – than the actual tools and equipment. Anyone can purchase the required tools and equipment to start another company but building up a robust client list can take years. It’s the same with social media marketing; those clients and their associated contacts are valuable commodities actually capable of generating income via direct sale and residual or indirect methods.

The Formula for Success

So, is there a formula for social media success and how much does it cost? Well, it may come as a surprise but the total “cost” of conducting a social media marketing campaign is often over-estimated by most small business owners. This is because they fail to take two very important aspects into consideration when conducting their calculations:

1. Tax benefits derived from write-off’s

2. Value of social media assets

Lets discuss the  first consideration, tax benefits; this can literally add thousands of dollars to the bottom line of many small business owners each year…in fact, the smaller the business owner the more likely they are to benefit. Remember, Uncle Sam typically doesn’t allow a small business owner to write-off the value of their own time which can be substantial if a sole proprietor is attempting to handle all their own social media marketing. On the other hand, outsourcing social media marketing is a legitimate business expense where nearly all aspects are included in the total fees.

The next major consideration is the value of the social media assets derived from a solid campaign. Like the client list for the service provider, this is a veritable pot of gold for small business owners and can actually become a viable asset.

To obtain a better picture of the actual cost of social media marketing one would use the following formula:

Campaign Cost – (value of social assets obtained + value of tax benefits) = Actual Cost

In some instances, it’s actually possible to generate positive results…ie, the actual cost is lower than the price tag of the social media campaign!

What’s it Worth?

By now, you are probably wondering what your own presence is actually worth. Now, it’s important to remember that these numbers are constantly changing based upon total volume of traffic, content and other variables. However, there are a few tools and other bits of information that can provide a quick estimate. For example, maybe you would like to know how much your Twitter account is worth…visit http://whatsmytwitteraccountworth.com and type in your user name to find out. Think it’s chump change? Perhaps but consider how much well known celebrities like Lady Gaga ($11,247,313) or Justin Bieber ($9,914,148) are worth. While few will reach that type of celebrity status, there are plenty of ordinary examples well into the tens-of- thousand dollar range; Superchiste ($266,131), Jadande ($118,637) and oodles of other relatively unknowns.

Of course there are other ways to measure total value including “lifetime value” of each contact. These are commonly incorporated into investor type documents when assessing the value of a social media site. Currently, here are the lifetime values of each client according to the given social media site:

Facebook – Not surprisingly, Facebook leads the pack with an estimated lifetime value of $118 per user.

LinkedIn – Many small business owners might be surprised to learn that LinkedIn makes a strong showing at $104 per user but given the high cost of recruiting and growing importance of B2B, LinkedIn has created a strong niche area in the social sphere.

Twitter – $71 per user isn’t shabby for a company that has yet to hit their major marketing stride. Keep an eye out on Twitter over the coming months; the recent Android traffic may push this up substantially.

Foursquare – Although currently estimated at $40 per user, the growth of local and mobile marketing is likely to make this grow.

Pinterest – A relative newcomer, Pinterest has generated immense growth in recent months propelling the site to just over $28 per user.

Tell us what you think of this article. Leave your comments below.

Sadly, a great amount of small business owners only seek out professional Advise once the damage has been done. Today we decided to dedicate this article to all those DIY types in the hope that maybe…just maybe…these words of advice will resonate before any damage has been done to your social media marketing campaign. Here are the 10 small business social media commandments!

#1 – Thou shall learn how to say “No”. Learning how to say “no” isn’t easy especially for someone that has built a business from the ground up. That same entrepreneurial spirit that thrives during a challenge often has a mental default which truly believes the old adage “If you want something done right…do it yourself”.  Of course, sooner or later even the most adept person must face the fact – there are only 24 hours in a day and no possible way to do everything on your very own. Outsourcing allows small business owners to focus on core business concepts while growing their business to the next level.

#2 – Thou shall focus on outcome. Ever hire an employee that is always busy but never actually seems to get anything done? It’s the difference between being “busy” and being “productive”. Social media marketing companies can be the same way. As a small business owner, evaluate outcomes – not just the amount of work. Anyone can increase billable hours but outcome is the only thing that matters.

#3 – Thou shall automate. Invest in success by automating those mundane, time-consuming aspects of your social media marketing campaign. For instance, capturing leads, managing email, auto-responders and other specific applications designed specifically for your small business. Not only does it demonstrate a level of dedication and tech savvy to prospective clients but saves time and money.

#4 – Thou shall not spend endless hours twittering away the time. Admit it. Social media marketing can easily become a time consuming black hole of wasted hours spent chatting about next to nothing or chasing down elusive information. Establish alerts that notify you of important information on a regular basis without adding to the distraction.

#5 – Thou shall analyze. Get to know the numbers behind each campaign. What time of day works best for your industry? What are visitors interested in? Which stories attracted the most attention? The least? Why? There is an immense amount of strategic information available but you must learn how to access it, how to use it for planning and preparation…and most important of all…how to put it to work!

#6 – Thou shall not lag behind. Plain and simple; as a small business owner you should be on the cutting edge of social media marketing rather than playing “catch up”.  Early adopters reap tremendous rewards by capturing untold levels of attention long before the competition heats up. By positioning your small business for success, it’s possible to grow well beyond the basics for a fraction of the typical cost associated with implementing a traditional advertising or marketing campaign. Lead – don’t lag!

#7 – Thou shall cut thy losses and move on. Okay, we know this is a tough one but it’s absolutely necessary to cut losses and move on. The tendency to stay with a non-performing decision is familiar to stock traders, financial advisors and social media marketing agencies…the rationale goes something like this; “if I just wait long enough surely it will turn around”. Of course, it doesn’t always turn around (just ask the good folks at Enron) especially when the shift is due to a transitional change, new technology or error in the original planning stage. This is where things get tricky. Trying to tell a small business owner that their former marketing strategy was a mistake isn’t always easy but it’s much worse to keep throwing good money at bad planning. Like all bad decisions, chalk it up to a learning experience and move forward.

#8 – Thou shall not live in the past. If convincing a small business owner to abandon a bad idea is tough just imagine how difficult it can be to move forward with something that has already worked! Although something may have worked well in the past, everything has a time and a prime. The key is to know what is coming next and prepare for maximum profits and exposure rather than riding the wave all the way back down. Change can be good especially when it comes to trying out new and exciting ways of communicating with clients via social media. Don’t project false barriers that restrain your small business from success – instead, work closely with a reputable social media consulting agency to develop exciting new frontiers, new methods of doing business and new applications that people want to use.

#9 – Thou shall constantly evolve. Like the Darwinian concept of survival of the fittest, only those that adapt to evolutionary changes are likely to thrive in a new marketing era. Unfortunately, evolution requires some degree of flexibility and insight into the future. Rather than viewing social media as purely a marketing tool, expand your horizons to explore the full potential of what new and emerging technology can do for your small business. From customer support to online training, social media marketing is just the tip of the iceberg.

#10 – Thou shall have fun! Last but not least…have fun with it all! Social media marketing is built around the concept of socialization and what encourages socialization more than fun? Keep it informative, entertaining and exciting. Not only will it show through in day-to-day business communications but chances are you will look forward to the next marketing campaign as much as your clients!

If you enjoyed this article please comment below and share it on Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter (or preferably all of them)!

Making the Case for Video
I have sent many video in different niches and every month we can see that people found the videos on the sites they were on and visited the websites and many even purchased products or services. These were not professional videos, and they were short. What they did was direct people to a website after giving them some information and directing them to the site. It cost nothing to upload the videos but time.

And the results? Increased exposure, and increased traffic. This is something surely not to be ignored.

Many businesses using this medium have seen a lot of ways in which video and other techniques were used to improve conversion by over 400%. Videos are best for giving instructional and how to info and often these can play a positive role in the sales conversion process.

Often, the biggest obstacle facing a prospect is that they don’t understand what they are about to sign up for. Smart businesses can overcome this obstacle by adding clearly communicated demonstration videos. Imagine when someone is looking for a product or service and they find a video on that which answers some questions that they had. They will now look to the person or company who created the video and often times want more information. Now you have established yourself as a leader and expert in your field and will make the sales process much easier for you. This is what video can do for you.

Here are some tips on instances of when you want to use video:

•Use video when you are sure the viewer will want to engage.
•Use video when it adds value to the shopping experience. Although a lot of information claims video is a boost to conversion you may not want the video on a details page as it may be a distraction. In that case adding an add to cat linked hotspot would make a lot of sense.
•Make video easy for the shopper to understand. Don’t take for granted that users understand how to use complicated video features like hotspots or clickable links. If possible be sure give them prompts to these features.
•Measure!! Use Google analytics and try to promote videos where you get information on audience engagement and other actionable metrics

The Video SEO Opportunity
The trend in demand for video and related SEO and design skills are on the rise. With huge growth in the field in the future one has to wonder if the disciplines implementing video are prepared for the increase in demand.

The reasons video is gaining popularity with site owners is the need to meet the new expectations of users in an ubiquitous internet environment. This is an evolution not a revolution so start learning now and catch the bisiness that will be generated by this new media.

1. On-page SEO activities
2. Backlinking and other off-page SEO actions
3. Social signals optimization

How Important is Social Media to SEO?

Very important! And it’s growing more important as time goes on Every social media marketing agency in the nation is hard at work dealing with emerging SEO ratings that integrate social media ratings in the new algorithm…and this is just the beginning. Google was the first search engine to confirm the use of social media tracking or “social signals” in SEO rankings. Google+ is built around this function and perhaps the most integrated social media option out there but all social sites are important. According to independent research, the top 10 percent of sites demonstrate up to 350% more traffic, 410% more keywords rated on the first page of Google and over 300% more revenue. Yes – it’s THAT important!

Increased Commercial Connectivity Requires to Reach Consumers

Smart brands are increasingly turning to social media, smart phones and greater levels of connectivity to reach consumers. Not only does the “always on” phenomena enhance social media status of these brands but newly emerging technology like mobile marketing completely transform the standards of “Internet marketing”.  This always on economy is highly networked – far beyond the original boundaries of the Internet itself. No longer are consumers tethered to a desktop but instead, have literally taken the Internet to the streets, cafe’s and towns throughout the world. Smart brands are turning to smart devices, always on connections and constant connectivity to meet the needs of this new breed of consumer.

Smart Systems

At the heart of social media and increased connectivity is the development of smart systems. These self-organized systems operate with a built-in feedback loop that constantly captures data, analyzes the situation, responds and then uses the outcomes to continue the feedback loop. They tend to be highly automated, data intense and social…very social. In fact, they are so social that even business partnerships and professional affiliations become part of the very framework in which other business entities operate. A recent example was the relationship between American Express and the new marketing campaign created by Twitter. Expect to see similar relationship offerings in the near future as business entities tap into the client lists of one another to build strategic relationships between brands, values, client expectations and purchasing habits.  Cornerstone brands will have a high social presence which distinguishes them from others in the same industry.

Social Presence

If it seems as though we’ve just come full circle; you are right! Social presence is essentially defined as the total impact and outreach a brand has within the larger society or community. This multi-channel, always on presence is highly integrated in the lives of consumers as well as other business partners. The company or service provider acts like a hub for others in their personal and professional affiliations. In return, those business owners with heightened social presence reap the reward of advanced knowledge and the collective wisdom generated by all other users. By using multiple channels, their reach continues to expand far beyond what would otherwise be possible within their own network. Unlike the Age of Data, the Connected Age is built upon relationships – not knowledge alone, representing a fundamental shift in the context of a product, brand or business.

The Bottom Line

SEO is increasingly dependent upon social and expected to grow exponentially in the coming months and years as business moves from the Age of Data to the Connected Age. Business owners must adapt in order to survive.

In particular, ad budgets earmarked for the desktop Web will shift to mobile in the next five years, propelling U.S. local mobile ad revenue to shoot up from about $2 billion this year to about $24 billion by 2016.

By then, Borell estimates that 88% of all local online advertising will be delivered on a mobile device. That growth will come directly at the expense of the desktop Web, where spending will decline 76% in the next five years.

Read more the rest at: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/166726/local-mobile-advertising-to-reach-24-billion-in-2.html#ixzz1kzvdmpKT

Higher Conversions on Mobile

There is a lot of evidence, which was presented last week at the  Real Estate Connect in New York City, which suggests that people are more likely to call or email an agent when they see a listing on a mobile device vs. a computer. For example, Realtor.com showed that Ipad and Iphone users were 160-300% more likely to contact an agent than regular desktop users.

Although laptop and desktop users still dominate by sheer numbers, the usage of mobile devices to find a home is on the up and up.

To read the rest of this eye opening article Click Here

http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/10/paypals-mobile-payments-4b-2011/

Enjoy

Let’s take a look at questions you should be asking and the answers you should be getting:

When I talk to people about what I do, there are always a lot of questions as to what SEO is, how it works, what I do to rank sites and so on. So I decided to write a book on the subject for those who know nothing about SEO but would like to learn. Even if you don’t plan on doing SEO on your website, and you plan on hiring a professional to do this, it is recommended that you know a little bit so that you can better manage them. Unfortunately in the SEO community, there are a lot of bad companies, and if you know what they are supposed to do to rank your site, it will be impossible to take advantage of you.

My new book, “Secrets of SEO Marketing: Strategies on How I Learned to Get to the Top of Search Engines and How You Ca Too” Walks you through the entire SEO process from beginning to end in a straight forward easy to understand manner.

SEO is really not complicated, it just time consuming. When you know what to do and you do a little bit each day, you will start to see some really great results in your rank. In this book I cover:

——How to choose the most profitable keywords for your campaign

—-The biggest SEO mistake most website owners make

—-A thorough understanding of how search engines work and what they look for so you can make your website follow their guidelines

—-SEO tools the pros use

—-A step by step plan to follow to rank any site in any market

—-Powerful link building strategies that get you ranked high which also bring you traffic

—-The #1 strategy to rank on page 1 within a couple of days

And much more……

If you are interested in this SEO Secrets book, Click this link  or for the kindle version go here.