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Posts Tagged ‘YouTube’
If you are attending or exhibiting at an upcoming event, be sure to prepare an online marketing strategy and plan for it. Whether it is a trade show or conference, events are a great opportunity to build brand awareness and promote your company online. There are many online channels you can use for event promotion, but we would advise you to begin with social media. Social media is a key resource for promotion and engagement, and by executing the following steps, you will set your business up for marketing success.
Let’s first take a look at the promotional aspect…
Before the Event:
Create and/or engage in a hashtag. Create buzz by giving the event a special online presence with this way of categorizing tweets.
Does the event have its own social media presence? If so, make your presence known there as well. Post on the Facebook event page, tweet using the event’s account and set up a hashtag.
Make your schedule of events social-friendly. Allow users to “check-in” to venues. Make sure all blog posts related to the event can be easily shared on social networks and via e-mail. The schedule should either be on a dedicated mobile page or on a page that was designed in responsive.
Spread the word elsewhere online. Make sure your colleagues and peers blog about the event and be sure to have an email campaign focused on it, or maybe even a webinar. Press releases are great too.
Keep it conversational. Be sure to ask open-ended questions regarding the event that generate a response. Use social media as an opportunity to gauge interest in the event, take surveys regarding what should be featured, and use it as a forum to field questions. This also gives a chance for companies to retweet users’ responses in order to build a “word-of-mouth” hype.
Keep a countdown running. Don’t overwhelm your followers with information and messages only about the event, but be sure to have it mentioned and remind the users of it daily.
When the big day comes:
Take pictures of everything. Just when you think you’ve taken too many photos- take some more! People want to feel like they’re at the event, almost to the point where they feel like they didn’t miss out at all just by following you on social networks. Document everything as it will provide great blog content for your official site later on. Ask attendees to do the same and post on Twitter using the hashtag.
Take videos of all possible content. If anything, it’s great for your brand’s YouTube channel, but can also liven up a post-event blog entry. Also helps you sell future events.
Make your location known. If you’re attending a large scale event, make sure your followers know exactly where to find you. Tweet what room you’re in, what booth you’re at, and always use the hashtags so people know what you’re referring to. Even landmarks are helpful!
If people aren’t seeing you, MAKE them notice you. Engage with others at the event via social media so they feel compelled to come and find you. Search the event’s hashtag and interact with those participating so you already have some background with people when you meet in person.
Did you just meet someone you want to remember? Make them remember you. Engaging with and commenting to people via social media is the new “collecting of business cards”. No need to try to remember who you hit it off with at the conference, as long as you stay engaged with them through social networks like Twitter and LinkedIn.
Tell everybody what happened. Write detailed and lively summary blogs for your company, and leave no detail out.
Once it’s all said and done, your company will have not only been an active participant on the conference room floor, but online as well. Promoting events via social media benefits you, your company, and the event. There’s no better way to consistently engage and converse with others while spreading your brand’s name across multiple channels.
Be sure to incorporate as many of these steps as you can at your next event. If you need a plan, or even people to help you, contact us for help. Good luck and enjoy!
You just distributed the marketing campaign you have been working on for hours, awesome! Now onto the next, right? Wrong! Before you completely move onto other projects, don’t forget to review the response rates of the work you just put forth.
In our upcoming webinar, on March 13th at 3PM EST, Tom Barry and I will be sharing our best practices for measuring marketing campaigns, but for now, here are 7 available and extremely helpful tools to help get you started!
1. Hootsuite
Twitter is one of today’s busiest social media outlets, due to the number of tweets distributed and the ability for users to interact with whomever they choose. Hootsuite helps you get a better grasp of what people are talking about, who’s talking about you, and how many clicks the links you share receive.
2. Facebook Insights
For those who are new to using Facebook pages as a marketing tool, you definitely need to use Facebook’s free analytics tool- Facebook Insights. It monitors how many people view your social media posts, the number of clicks each of your posts receive, and how many times people are sharing your posts with others. The insights also give you a breakdown of the different demographics of your page’s Facebook network.
3. LinkedIn Insights
LinkedIn’s built-in analytics also give users a closer glimpse of who is visiting a company’s LinkedIn page. Its work-focused audience analysis highlights a page visitor’s job rank, industry, job function, and company size. These analytics also summarizes the amount of impressions and new followers a company page receives each day.
4. YouTube Analytics
The popular video-hosting platform provides users with their own measuring tools as well. Users are able to track how long viewers watch a video for, and how many likes or comments each video receives. YouTube also tracks when videos are being watch and from where.
5. Google Analytics
If your website is lacking any form of analytics, add a Google Analytics code to it right now! This measuring platform is awesome for two big reasons; 1- it’s free, 2- it tracks just about everything! From audience demographics to referral sources, it gives you a solid breakdown of how people are finding your website, what’s getting the most attention, and the amount of time they spend on your website. Google Analytics even tracks the traffic patterns people take within your website!
6. Email Analytics
If you are using an email marketing platform, chances are that it will come with these essential tracking tools- A/B subject line testing, open rates, and click rates. Each one of these metrics can help you determine what you should adjust for your future email campaigns. If your open rates are strong but the click rates have a poor number, perhaps you need to review the strength of your call to action or overall messaging. We have these tools!
7. QR Codes Scans
Mobile media is another channel that can be tracked by using tracked QR Codes (like QReate and Track!). By keeping track of when your audience is scanning them, from where, and from which mobile devices, this will help you gain awareness of where your most responsive audiences are and which devices are used the most from your audience.
Now that you have these tools, use them! There is nothing better than being able to use analytics in order to strengthen your future campaigns! And don’t forget, you can get many more tips and best practices from Tom Barry and I during our “Finding Your Marketing Pot of Gold” webinar on March 13th at 3PM EST.
Reserve your spot now!
Related Posts:
Benefits of Facebook Ad Campaigns
6 Results-Oriented Marketing Tasks to Do Today
Gathering Customer Feedback for Your Website
It’s the playoffs. Time to step up your game.
On January 16, at 1 pm EST, Tom, Lou and Whitney will guide your business through the essential plays of content marketing, including:
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- Blogging Strategies
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- White Paper Distribution
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- Content Calendar Creation
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- Videos, Podcasts, Multimedia
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- Secrets To Creativity
Register today to reserve your seat. Like a goal line stand or game-deciding field goal, this is something you won’t want to miss.
Register Today!
“Hey Facebook, come sit at our table!”
LinkedIn and Pinterest were feeling pretty good after the end of the last school year. Pinterest was the new kid but found immediate popularity at Social Media High School. LinkedIn had the really cool job, making a little more cash than everyone else in the past year.
They both had the confidence built up to invite Facebook, the most popular kid in school for as long as anyone could remember, to sit at their table.
Not long ago, Facebook had a table all to itself. No one could rival its superstar status. But a string of embarrassing public events has knocked it down a peg or two.
“Hey Twitter!” Pinterest yelled. “Come sit with us!”
“Quiet down, new kid!” barked Facebook. “Didn’t you know? Twitter and LinkedIn broke up a couple months ago.”
Don’t feel bad for Twitter, though. Behind Facebook, no one is more popular than Twitter.
Twitter quickly walked past and sat down with Instagram, Google+, Yelp and Foursquare. Instagram has been linked to Facebook since early April, proving the popular guys always get what they want.
Google+ has been trying hard to get out of his dad’s shadow since he moved into town. Yelp and Foursquare have always been seen as a little creepy to some people, always asking where you are.
StumbleUpon normally sits at this table, but it was in detention for not being able to sit still.
“Room for one more?” said YouTube. Who doesn’t like YouTube? It’s the life of every party. And with a resume like YouTube’s, what’s not to like?
“Who is that sitting over there in the corner?” asked Instagram.
“Oh, that?” replied Twitter. “That’s MySpace.”
Connect with Grow Socially on Twitter!
Today, July 16, is Will Ferrell’s birthday. Star of numerous comedies and driving force behind many memorable characters, there are none more iconic than Ron Burgundy, the mustached protagonist of Anchorman.
Mr. Burgundy has been back in the news lately, with the announcement of an Anchorman 2 coming out next year. That got us to thinking, what if Ron Burgundy could offer some tips on social media marketing, in the fashion that only he can.
Grab some milk, get your pal Baxter and see what everyone’s favorite anchor man has to say about your online efforts.
Ron’s Tip #1: “I don’t think anyone knows what social media means anymore. Scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago.”
This isn’t much of a tip, but a good opportunity to debunk a common myth. There is a science to social media for business. Never go in blind. You’ve gotta keep your head on a swivel. Have a steadfast plan for when your followers interact with you; be consistent with your responses. Find a good mix of content your company creates and sources that you can pull content from, and share them both with great zeal. An interested and engaged audience is derived from posting diversity. And diversity, as we know, is not an old, old wooden ship.
Ron’s Tip #2: “I’m not sure how to put this…but your YouTube channel should be kind of a big deal.”
Video is a critical part of an online presence. It is a different type of content that is very easy to consume. And let’s face it, your company bloggers will have those days when they are just tapped out. When the written words aren’t flowing, get behind the camera and start talking. Additionally, having a well-branded and professionally done catalog of videos will make you look good. I mean really good.
Ron’s Tip #3: “Stay classy, various social media outlets.”
Your social media are just as important as any other marketing channels. Remember, everything you post is a reflection of your corporate identity. Take great care in showcasing your personality while not being unprofessional or offensive. Any post about political affiliation, social issues or things of the like can potentially alienate customers. Keep it clean, keep it light-hearted, keep it entertaining.
And until then, you stay classy, loyal blog readers.
Would you like some more social media tips? Register for our free webinar “Build Your Business with Inbound Marketing” on July 24th >>
Ah, it’s summertime! As someone who lives in New England, this certainly means that I’ll be spending more time at the beach and at clam shacks over the next couple of months.
It also often means (not for all, but for many) that businesses may have a bit more downtime than at other points of the year.
Will you use that downtime to visit the beach during the workday? Or could you perhaps use that time to re-ignite your marketing efforts?
If you choose the latter option, here are 6 tasks that you can do today that will drive results for your business!
Review Your Marketing Plan
Does your company have a marketing plan? If so, that’s a good thing. However, if it has simply been filed away since you created it at the end of last year, that’s not such a good thing!
A much better approach is to keep your marketing plan in front of you constantly as the days and weeks go by. It can serve as a force that guides you and keeps you inspired! It can help to make sure that your daily tactics support your goals and objectives.
If it’s been a little while since you’ve last looked at this year’s marketing plan, it’s time to print it and review it!
Spend Time Connecting and Listening on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn
If you have a profile on those social networks, that’s a great start!
But if you primarily only use them to log-in, share some company information (perhaps a blog post, a press release, or some other news about your products and services), then you are truly missing out on some of the major value points social networking efforts can bring.
Take at least 30 minutes today to simply use those networks as a listening tool.
Read what your customers and prospects are posting there. Use each network’s search form to find out what people are saying about industry trends, conferences, and other newsworthy items.
Also, spend some time making sure that you are connected with the right people. Look up some of your recent customers and sales leads, and make a connection!
Create a Video and Upload it to YouTube
“Video sells.” Have you heard that expression? If you haven’t used video yet in your sales and marketing efforts, you are missing out. Online video can be one of the most effective ways to reach your audience with compelling messaging about your products and services.
Best of all, creating and uploading basic videos can be done quickly and inexpensively nowadays.
Give it a try! Sit down in front of one of your company’s posters, banners, or other collateral items. Have someone film you with a smartphone or some sort of handheld device. Then talk for about a minute about one of the major benefits your company can offer… or simply talk about an industry trend.
Then, upload the video to YouTube! But also make sure to include keywords and a link to your website in the Video Description field.
Write a Blog Post with Your Customers’ Needs in Mind
One of the best ways to keep your website fresh and up-to-date is through a blog.
Of course, having a blog is not enough. You must make sure that you’re posting content to it on a regular basis.
Also, in order for the blog to be effective, the contents should address the needs and concerns of your customers.
Take 10 minutes today and think about an item that might be on your customers’ minds. Then, write two paragraphs that include some commentary, advice, and/or tips that will help them with that item.
Then, post it on the blog to offer instant value to your clients!
Analyze Your Website Traffic Reports
How often do you access and read your company’s website traffic reports?
Chances are, it may not be enough.
Take some time today to log-in to whatever system you may use for Website Analytics, or pull up the latest report that your marketing agency may have sent you.
Read through what’s happening — take a close look at traffic trends (good and bad), keyword usage, sources, goal conversions, and other data points.
You will most likely uncover important data points that can help you improve your website marketing efforts in the very near future.
Create a QR Code and Add it to Your Printed Materials
Print can still be an effective component in your marketing mix today!
However, it often delivers the best results when its integrated with other channels, including mobile.
(Plug alert) Sign up for an account with QReate & Track today, generate a trackable QR Code, and then include it on your printed materials.
QR Codes can make your printed items interactive, they can engage the mobile audience, and they can help you better measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts!
Enjoy Your Summer… But Keep Marketing
Yes, it’s very important to enjoy the beautiful weather that summertime can bring. But don’t forget to keep your marketing efforts going strong!
I hope you find these tips helpful!
If you have any questions about how the team at Grow Socially can help you accomplish those types of items, please contact us today >>
We all know how expansive social media has become. But just how impressive is that reach?
Come late July, the most celebrated of all international events – sporting or otherwise- will serve as the backdrop for the most frenzied activity of one of our newest social institutions.
The 2012 Olympic Games in London, England are poised to be the setting of many record-breaking events. What remains to be seen is if those events actually happen during the athletic events.
One Associated Press article points out one of the main reasons we will see a massive jump in action. “At the last Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008, Twitter had about 6 million users and Facebook 100 million. Today, the figure is 140 million for Twitter and 900 million for Facebook.”
London is also going to be the perfect storm of new media. ”In Sydney (2000) there was hardly any fast Internet, in Athens (2004) there were hardly any smartphones, in Beijing hardly anyone had social networks,” Jackie-Brock Doyle, communications director of London organizing committee LOCOG, told Business Week. “That’s all changed. Here, everyone has all that and will be consuming the games in a different way.”
The Olympiad, with all of its grandeur and spectacle, is the perfect breeding ground for easily shared content. There are a few simple ground rules being laid by the International Olympic Committee restricting video showing and advertising, but otherwise these games will be overflowing with pictures, Tweets, posts and more.
Keep an eye on hashtags coming from corporate sponsors and the television broadcast. These giant companies are fully aware of the importance of social media engagement, and they are investing some serious resources into it.
We can’t be sure what event will be the one to shatter social media records. American swimming giants Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte going head to head in the pool? Sprinting stars Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay in a photo finish?
No matter what it is, it’ll be hard to miss.
Follow Grow Socially on Twitter!
Recently, there was an announcement on the YouTube blog about a big achievement.
People now upload 72+ hours of video every minute to YouTube!
To commemorate that announcement and its seventh birthday, they also put together a video that highlights its remarkable growth. If you have a moment, I think you’d enjoy it:
Of course, I’m only sharing that news because I think it can help you grow your business. How so?
Well, here are three ways that you could use YouTube to attract attention to your printing business today:
Demonstrate the Services That You Can Offer
In order to catch the attention of and leave an impression on marketers, printers certainly need to do more just list the equipment that they have and the services that they provide. In today’s world, many marketers need to be able to visualize specific solutions that the printer’s hardware and services can bring to them.
Video can be a great way to bring a printer’s solutions to life.
I recently saw an example of this from the folks at Mojave Copy and Printing in California.
In order to sell their service of providing very well-designed Window Signs that can be made interactive with QR Codes, they posted a video of an installation.
By posting this video, they’ve not only made it possible to demonstrate their services online, but they’re also giving their consumer a tool to demo why they’d want to invest money in an interactive window sign for their company. For example, the marketer could easily show that video to his or her’s management team in order to justify the expense and potential benefits.
Humanize Your Brand with Videos Featuring Employees
Video can be very beneficial in the fact that it helps to put a face to your company’s name. It also can demonstrate your personality.
In year’s past, this may not have always been necessary. Perhaps a lot of your printing business came through face-to-face interactions. Today, that percentage has certainly changed a bit. If someone is ordering print from you through your online storefront, they may never actually get to know the human-side to your business. In order to generate loyalty and repeat business, it’s important to find ways to reach those folks.
The folks behind Rescigno’s Marketing Connections do a great job of this. Now, I have had the privilege of working with them in the past in the vendor/customer relationship. But trust me on this, they are rock stars! I’d say that even if we had never worked together.
In this video, they featured the two owners of the business, Ron and Sue.
In just over 3 minutes, they accomplished a number of great things. They provided helpful tips to their customers & prospects about direct mail, they exposed one of the services that they can offer (variable data printing), and they also helped to demonstrate their great personalities and spirit to their target audience.
Provide Thought-Leadership on Relevant Topics
Video can also be a great way to educate your customers and prospects, and to position yourself as a thought leader.
In fact, it can help your company to get found! Since Google owns YouTube, you certainly shouldn’t be surprised when you see videos from that channel appear on Page 1 of many Google searches.
One subject that is certainly very hot in the marketing world is QR Codes.
To capitalize on that, Jasper Casey of Casey Connect has launched a video series called “QR Codes Studs and Duds”.
Throughout the videos, he provides examples and best practices for marketers that want to make their printed materials interactive and reach the mobile audience.
When marketers have questions about have to do that effectively, these videos should certainly help to increase the chances that people will turn to Jasper and Casey Connect for answers.
Moving Forward
I hope that you find these tips helpful!
Have you used YouTube in a different way to promote your print business? If so, I’d love to know! Please feel free to share it with me in the Comments section.
The Internet and social media have certainly impacted our day-to-day lives, but have you noticed how the digital era will change the way we record and store history for years to come? Videos, photos, articles, and other forms of media are published on the Internet every day for the entire world to see. All of this documentation will be forever preserved for as long as the technology that hosts it exists. Think about how this currently affects the way we share information, how it will impact history classes for future generations, or even how individuals can look back on family photos and videos.
YouTube’s Impact
YouTube, the world’s largest video-hosting platform, has certainly identified the impact its 7-year-long existence has made on today’s world. Above is a video its creators produced for its latest anniversary, which includes incredible statistics and memorable moments. This video captures the true significance social sharing and digital connection have for pop culture, political views, businesses, and individuals. With YouTube, the first U.S. Presidential CNN/YouTube debate was able to take place in 2007, the 2011 Royal Wedding had 72 million online streams in 188 countries, and the word “viral” gained a whole new meaning. YouTube made the world a little bit smaller in its own, unique way.
Facebook’s Impact
Although the Internet holds more information than we could ever read in a lifetime, it does make me wonder what would be different if we had the Internet decades, or even centuries ago. This thought was triggered by the The White House’s Facebook Page. There, they took advantage of Facebook’s Timeline feature, where they have presidential and historic announcements sprinkled throughout a 300-year time span. Although it is entertaining to click on a few posts to see which presidents were in office, occasional photos, or what the big political headlines were at the time, it makes you realize the large gaps of detail that could have been there if social media had existed then.
Although it is easy to focus on what could have been, let’s appreciate what we have now and how you can benefit from all of these outlets and channels. Try these channels out personally! Upload your family photos and videos to a social network so they will forever be preserved. Or, follow your favorite musicians, businesses, or figures to see how social media can connect and educate you on those topics You would be stunned by just how cool it all is!
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