5 Powerful Steps to Building a 6-Figure Blog
Long ago, when the marketing agency I was consulting with first began building websites for clients, blogging was still in its infancy (we’re talking zygote stage), and few people were using the Web in the way we do today.
Weblogs were definitely in my peripheral vision, and I am proud to have been one of Twitter and Blogger co-founder Evan Williams’ first groupies.
But “following” Evan was a fascination, not a concerted effort to improve my marketing savvy, and it took me a while to fully wrap my brain around the genius of what he was doing.
Talk about being a day late and a dollar short.
But I have learned a few lessons since then and have made a very good living helping others to jump onto the Internet bandwagon, build a profitable business, and have fun doing it.
This post explores a handful of those same strategies. But this isn’t going to be your run-of-the-mill, systematic approach to generating traffic, converting leads into sales, and creating a lasting presence online.
Because while those systems are an invaluable part of your online success, one thing has become very clear to me over the years: If you’re going to be profitable online, you have to do it from the inside, out.
Building a 6-Figure Blog: An Inside Job
If it sounds like I’m going to suggest that you and your team (if you have one) sit in a circle, sing “Kumbaya,” and wait for Spirit to make your SEO decisions for you, you’re off the hook.
What I am suggesting is that you become hyper aware of what it is that you and your customer are looking to accomplish online.
Because once you get clear on that distinction and are able to satisfy your needs and those of your customer, success naturally follows.
So what are the 5 Steps to 6-Figure Online Success?
Step 1: Ask Yourself, Who Am I?
This first step starts where all business endeavors should: with a question. Who are you? What best describes you and your style? Are you the social, chatty type that is attracted to bloggers who teach with stories (hi!), or are you a numbers and systems person who loves stats, charts, and infographics?
There is no wrong answer here. In fact, the only way you can get it wrong online is to not be yourself. That’s why it’s crucial that you pinpoint and own your unique style.
Step 2: Identify Your Ideal Client
Step two goes hand in hand with the first. Because once you know who you are online, it’s very easy to focus on the types of people you want to attract.
Here’s a tip: If you’d like to be fabulously successful online, you want to get really, really clear about who your ideal client is.
And here’s the fun part: You get to make this stuff up. You get to decide who that person is.
If you see your ideal client as a middle-aged female who earns $200,000 annually and knows when the next Jimmy Choo trunk sale is going to happen (and has instructed Siri on her iPhone to remind her days in advance), write that down.
If you’re feeling a male target demo, 18 to 24, who lives in his parents’ basement and considers beer pong and “Guy Code” the epitome of entertainment, write that down.
And have fun with it. Remember, the clearer you can get here, on paper, the more you’ll speak to your ideal customer through your blog, and the easier it will be to attract them to your site.
Step 3: Define Your Primary Call to Action
What is it you want people to do when they come to your site? Leave their name and email so that you can begin building a relationship and lead them through a sales process? Comment on a post so you can develop a dialogue? Like or +1 your post so that you can gain audience share and climb to the top of Google?
Ideally, you probably will want them to do all of the above, but in order to communicate a clear and concise message, you need to identify a primary call to action, and then structure the function of your site from there.
Step 4: Take Charge
Once you’ve defined your primary call to action, you want to make it clear and easy for your customer to do what you want.
Don’t assume that they know you’re looking for comments just because there’s a comment section on your blog.
Ask them to comment. Better yet — tell them to do so. “Do you like what you’ve read here? Leave a comment below” works like gangbusters.
Do you want them to leave a name and email to build your list? Place an opt-in box at the top right of your page where it can be seen, tell your visitors exactly what you want them to do, and where.
Step 5: Give Your Future Income a Purpose
Okay, this last step is, admittedly, a little on the woo-woo side.
But does it work?
You bet. So much so that my husband and I recently re-tooled our entire online presence around what it takes to make money from the inside, out.
Too many people jump online with little to no idea how they’re going to stand out, and an even vaguer idea of what that success means for them.
Don’t make that mistake. Give your money a purpose. Write out what you need to earn every month in order to meet your bills, then add in an amount on top of that that will go right into your rainy day fund.
Once your expenses are covered, figure out what you need to earn this month in order to save up for your vacation or Christmas, buy a new computer, or get that training you’ve had your eye on.
Whatever the amount is, write it down, keep it where you can see it, every day, and watch what happens.
Putting It All Together
I heard someone say recently that success in business is only five percent marketing. The other 95 percent is all about what you do on the inside.
If you’re ready for your blog to start pulling in six figures (or more), put these five steps to work and watch how things begin to come together for you when you do. The results can be nothing short of amazing when you make your success an inside job.
About the Author
For nearly twenty years, Pamela Schott has developed leading-edge marketing strategies for clients of all sizes. She is a contributing author to Speaking Your Truth, an Amazon.com bestseller for women entrepreneurs. Together with her husband, Pamela runs a small business success blog
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5 Content Marketing Ideas Worth Stealing
Marketing in the past often consisted of one off campaigns that didn’t build a relationship with your customer or prospect.
It was about the “deal” …closing the sale. It was sometimes called “Hit and Run” marketing.
Content Marketing is about creating compelling, contagious content and sharing it freely on social networks and blogs.
It is about building a relationship with your prospects and customers that builds credibility and trust that turns propsects into buyers and customers into high value repeat buyers.
The initial goal is to obtain the buyers permission to receive that content whether it is a subscription via an opt-in email or a Facebook social opt-in ” like” that delivers information into the Facebook news and “Timeline” stream.
Creating content is time consuming and a creative challenge.
8 Content Marketing Challenges
These are the challenges among many.
- Finding inspiration and ideas for the content
- Creating it
- Making it relevant
- Resourcing it
- Managing it
- Monitoring it
- Measuring it
- Making it “Liquid” and Contagious
Sometimes you need some inspiration and you need to try some new ideas and different media that may provide a nudge to try something different and creative outside your comfort zone.
As Steve Jobs says “Stay Foolish”
The Power of Multi-Media
Many of us still don’t think about alternative media to text and articles because online video is still in its infancy. YouTube has only been with us for 7 years and in the world of business and brand marketing this is only a “blip”.
We need to “switch on” our multimedia mind and consider other media rather than just words to get our message out to the world that wants and demands multi-media.
Images and photos are much more likely to be shared than an article or a white paper. Videos or infographics will be shared at high velocity compared the the humble “written word” that have been with us for millenia.
Idea 1: Include Images and Photos
There has been a significant evolutionary shift on the social web in the last 12 months as marketers and social media network startups have realised the growing power of visual content.
By the end of 2011 the number of photos being uploaded to Facebook had reached 250 million a day.
This number hasn’t gone unnoticed and has led to 3 key and noticeable events and changes.
- The “Success” of Pinterest
- Google+ being launched with the user interface designed to display photos, and images in high defintion and in a large format.
- Facebook responding with the Facebook “Timeline” designed to give images and photos greater prominence. In fact you can now “feature” an image in a bigger size. Expect this change to be migrated to Brand “pages” in the next 6 months.
Photos and images drive high engagement on Facebook and if I look at my top ranked content on my Facebook page and measuring the virality index using the Facebook “Insights” tool, the top 10 are all images or photos.
Some are cartoons that are relevant and congruent with my other content (written or visual) and with questions are used to drive conversations, stimulate and create stories.
There are photos that may reveal the human side.
The marketer needs to embrace this and work out ways they can use images and photos in their social media and content marketing that
- Increase Facebook “likes”
- Inspire comments
- Drive sharing
Also don’t forget to just have some fun!
Fashion Brands such as Threadless use images in clever ways to survey customers on their Facebook page that ensure that the garments they produce will be successful driven by the crowd sourced voting through “likes”. The garment with the most likes is the one that is manufactured!
The indirect benefit of increased engagement on Facebook with likes and comments is that it increases your Facebook EdgeRank with your fans and so improves the flow of your “Page” updates into their Timeline.
Idea 2: Create a Contagious Online Video
One good example of a contagious video content is Dynamite Surfing created in 2007. It contained all the 4 main elements that were needed for it to become contagious and viral
According to Brent Coker a marketing professor the four key elements required for a video to go viral are:
- Congruency – The themes of a video must be congruent with people’s pre-existing knowledge of the brand it is advertising.
- Emotive strength – Creating strong emotions is essential if you want to ensure you are giving your video the best chance of becoming viral and the more extreme the emotions, the better.
- Network involvement – Videos must be relevant to a large network of people and the larger the better, some examples of large networks are college students or office workers.
- “Paired meme synergy” – These memes can be elements such as “Voyeur” or “Unexpectedness” that were contributing factors in the success of the “Dynamite Surfing” video
The Dynamite surfing video tapped into all 4 key elements.
So how can you harness these elements to assist in giving your video the best chance of becoming viral?
Idea 3: Design a “Shareable” Video Graphic
Eric Qualmann is well known for his social media revolution video graphics which like “infographics” take numbers, facts and figures and make it entertaining and easy viewing via a video format. These concepts can be applied to many industry sectors.
Idea 4: Use the Hottest Trend in Content – Infographics!
Infographics has emerged in the last 12 months as one of the most popular and shareable forms of social content.
What are infographics?
“Infographics are visual representations of information, data or knowledge that present complex information quickly and clearly”
The internet and social web are a firehose of information and Infographics is one of the appealing and efficient ways of sharing it.
What are the major types of Infographics and applications?
- Statistics
- Concepts
- Business models and processes
- Cartoons
- Information
- Timelines
What sort of Infographic could you create that would be shareable in your industry?
Idea 5: Create a Well Structured Blog Post or eBook
Creating a blog post, article, whitepaper or eBook is a vital part of your content marketing strategy and for B2B companies is the foundational element.
Giving it the best chance that it will be shared and talked about is the biggest challenge.
What are some of the basics that need to be considered when creating text content?
- Awesome headlines – This is needed to “Tempt and Tease” the person to click on the link and read your “Tweet” or find out more about your Facebook update!
- Great writing – Be a story teller, find your voice
- Good Structure – Sub Titles, bullet Points and reasonable readable fonts
- Educational – How To’s
- Informative – News, Facts and Figures
- Visual – Include images in your articles and posts as well as infographics, photos or even cartoons from time to time
Here are 4 great blogs that provide examples of good articles writing but have different styles and strategies but are all effective
What About You?
How do you use images or photos in your content and social media marketing? What do you find works for you in your content marketing.
What could you do better?
More Reading
- 10 Reasons Why “Liquid” Content Should be Included in Your Social Media Marketing
- What are 10 Addictive Types of Content?
- How to Increase Your Blog Traffic by 55% with One Button
- 5 Motivations for Sharing Content
- 20 Ideas for Social Media Content that Engages
- Is it Better to Share on Google, Facebook or Twitter+
- 9 Questions to Ask your Customers When Creating Content
The Best of JeffBullas.com – The Top 10 Social Media Posts from 2011
It has been a big year in social media and the relentless evolution of social publishing networks that are transforming how we communicate, market and do business.
The hesitancy to implement social media marketing is dissipating as many CEO’s and senior management have started to embrace the power of the social networks.
Some of the highlights included
- Google+ launched and reaches a user base of over 50 million by the end of 2011
- Twitter continuing to grow despite minimal changes and still no sustainable business model emerging (simplicity is still its number one feature)
- Facebook evolves into a more visual network with higher definition and larger photos featured in its new timeline feature
- Facebook commerce (F-Commerce) becomes established
- StumbleUpon makes a comeback
- Pinterest suprises everyone with it growth after only 12 months
- Tumblr starts to make headlines with its phenomenal user base
In looking at the most popular articles three things are apparent
- Facebook is “the” social network that occupies most people’s focus and attention
- Facts ,figures and statistics are always popular
- Infographics are “hot”
Here are the top ten social media posts from 2011.
1. 50 Fascinating Facebook Facts And Figures
(64,446 views)
The rise and rise of Facebook is producing a scramble by marketers and companies to leverage its huge global database and traffic.
Google is looking over its shoulder as Facebook grows at over 10 million users a month and sits currently at number two on web traffic rankings according to Alexa.com.
Last year Facebook surpassed Google for the top ranking for total time spent online.
2. The 10 Best Facebook Campaigns
(59,911 views)
Facebook marketing campaigns seem to be going all warm, caring and fluffy recently as brands realize that solving problems and helping those in need can be a very effective marketing tactic.
Three of the Facebook campaigns in this list have an altruistic reason behind their campaigns, from donating $500,000 each to 20 schools to raising funds for the “Make A Wish Foundation”.
The marketing goals for the Facebook pages vary but quite often the simple goal of just increasing their fan count to their Facebook page seems to be top of the list as brands have worked out very quickly that being able to communicate to 1,000′s or even millions of fans via a simple status update is very efficient highly leveraged marketing. Companies have also realized that people’s main reason for becoming a fan for the most part is not so charitable, but is about having access to the latest special offers and freebies.
3. 20 Stunning Social Media Statistics Plus Infographic
Do you wonder why your productivity has dropped over the past 2 – 3 years?
There is a time sink and it’s not television!
Those of us who are connected to the internet and that is 2 billion of us, have been distracted by social multi-media publishing machines that are pumping out staggering amounts of content with enticing high definition images and videos!
You cannot escape their allure as they tempt you to log in when you are out and about with either with your laptop, iPad or smart phone.
These enticing, tempting distractions are robbing us of time that should be spent doing productive work like washing your car, cleaning the house or doing your tax… and I know how much you all enjoy those activities!
4. The 10 Best Social Media Campaigns
(18,735 views)
Since social media has become an integral part of our lives, marketers have used their creative talents to develop social media campaigns with various degrees of success which can be measured in a variety of ways.
One very successful social media marketing campaign that was run in 2009 was the competition for the “Best Job in the World” which was based on the simple concept of posting a one-minute video application on Tourism Queensland’s Web site explaining why you should be chosen as caretaker of Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef and you might get to blog and cam your way through a six-month gig that paid about $100K U.S.
5. 30 Terrific Twitter Facts And Figures
Twitter has always suffered an image problem and is not usually taken very seriously by the general public. Its name doesn’t help with some people even saying that ‘Twitter is for twits’. Despite this glamor and brand problem this has not held back its growth after its humble origins and launch in 2006.
Since then Twitter has gained popularity worldwide and is estimated to have 225 million users, generating 65 million tweets a day and handling over 800,000 search queries per day. It is sometimes described as the “SMS of the Internet” and its 140 character limit keeps the messages short and simple.
Its attraction as a social web media platform is maybe in its simplicity and real time messaging that enables breaking news and information to hit the web instantly without filters and censorship.
6. 10 Top Small Business Facebook Page Designs to Inspire You
(16,732 views)
Facebook pages is the place where a lot of inspiring innovation, marketing and design is happening on the social web.
Major brands are often worth checking out as they can wow you with the the latest in innovation such as Facebook stores, inspiring embedded videos and designs that look like they cost a fortune. If you want to obtain some good ideas it is a good business practice to emulate elements of the most popular Facebook pages in the world such as Lady Gaga or one of the top company Facebook pages StarBucks.
7. Social Media Marketing – 10 Inspiring Infographics
(16,130 views)
n 2011 social media marketing continued to make its impact on business and brand promotions. Google+ was launched (with an investment of over $500 million in development costs), Twitter became embedded in the new Apple iPhone 4s and Blogging didn’t die.
Some surprising results and unexpected networks and social media platforms have made their mark this year .
- Tumblr is now attracting over 90 million unique visitors every month
- StumbleUpon driving over 50% of all social network traffic
- YouTube is attracting 50% more views than 2010 and threatening traditional TV advertising and marketing
8. How To Take Your Company’s Facebook Fan Page from Zero to 40,000 Fans
(15,761 views)
It was last year that I met a Facebook marketing specialist, Mike Watkins at a marketing event. I was impressed by his story about how he had taken the SUPRE’s fashion brand’s Facebook page from zero to 40,000 fans shortly after Facebook released the “Page” option to add to its “Profiles” and “Groups” membership options. I met him again recently for a video interview that I will be publishing in the next few days, in the meantime I would like to share his story.
9. 50 Awesome YouTube Facts and Figures
(15,322 views)
YouTube is a modern phenomena. The social media platform’s original concept is rumoured to have been inspired by the idea of being a video dating site with the unlikely title of “Tune In Hook Up”. In the end it launched as a simple video sharing site that has helped reinvent the web from a one way static channel to an interactive web eco-system (along with social networking channels such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter) that has enticed and compelled us to engage globally with other internet users using a variety of rich multi-media and social sharing platforms.
10. 50 Amazing Facts and Figures About Google
(14,154 views)
Google has become an integral part of our lives and the word has even become a verb as we are often heard to say let’s “Google” that. I have even heard the web giant referred to in hushed tones during heated discussions and when a controversial fact or figure is being debated across a dinner table or at the local bar as to whether it is true or false and a person will pull out their iPhone and say “let’s check Lord Google”.
What type of articles and topics do you want to read in 2012?
Read More:
Image by yoppy
Is Social Media a Waste of Time? [Infographic]
It was in 2005 that I noticed a trend that intrigued me and it was that teenagers were becoming obsessed with a social networking site called MySpace.
I didn’t create an account as it seemed a waste of time and I had more important things to do.
In 2008 I was invited by a friend to join Facebook and on signing in I was impressed by its clever programming and functionality that allowed you to connect with old friends and colleagues from college at the click of a button.
Over the next 12 months I observed that certain people became engrossed in Facebook and seemed to spend most of their waking hours updating their profile and uploading photos.
In 2012 that has not changed.
What has changed though is how it is used. Facebook is a place to play games like Farmville or Mafia wars. It is a website where you can now buy products and get specials. You can listen to music and upload videos. You can instant message and chat.
The creation of Facebook “pages” for business to participate has allowed the whole Facebook ecosystem to evolve at an accelerated pace.
Marketers have found it a vibrant place to engage and communicate with customers and it is socializing marketing.
So is it too much of a time sink that takes us away from things that should be done? Does social media in fact leverage our time and reduce the tyranny of distance?
Is Social Media a Waste of Time?
If you take a closer look then the benefits seem to outweigh the disadvantages.
Here are some of the upsides to social media
- 18% of people 50-64 years old use it to connect with others who have similar hobbies
- 17% use it to find “love”
- 50% use it to reconnect with old friends
- It is a source of entertainment as 250 million photos are uploaded every day and there are 100 million videos to watch
- 41% of the class of 2011 used it to look for a job
Do you think social media is waste of time?
Why Social Media Isn’t a Waste of Time
Courtesy of: Schools.com
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- 11 New Twitter Facts, Figures and Growth Statistics plus [INFOGRAPHIC]
- Past, Present and Future of Blogging: 3 Infographics
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- How Do You Use Twitter [INFOGRAPHIC]
Why Social Media will Disappear
In the 1960’s the “Madmen of Madison” Avenue were challenged as the age of television forever changed the advertising and marketing landscape.
The arrival of color television in 1961 was rapidly becoming an integral part of the family home and engaged millions of people with captivating television shows, news as it happened and movies.
The advertising agencies had to reinvent themselves as the new technology became widespread and by 1979 over 300 million televisions were occupying the corners of peoples living rooms.
50 years ago the choices of media were simple compared to today with essentially only a few media types.
- Radio
- Newspaper
- Magazine
- Cinema
- Television
- Theatre
- Poster
In 2012 we have a smorgasbord of media including CD’s, podcasts, blogs, online video, online photos, iTunes, satellite radio, mobile phone, tablets, email, Internet, TiVo and video recorders.
Just to name a few!
The Age of Media Convergence
In 2012 if you want to view a video, listen to the radio or send an email, SMS or Tweet you only need one device, your mobile phone.
Your smart phone offers you one platform where you can view News, music, videos, GPS, News, Weather, Twitter, Radio, Television, Watch, Magazines (blogs)
The challenge for traditional media is that it:
- Isn’t searchable
- Can’t be watched when you want
- Can’t be viewed on the hardware platform you prefer and use (Tablet, PC, Laptop or mobile)
- Doesn’t build an online asset for the brand
Coca Cola has decided that is time to move beyond the 30 second movie commercial as social media and traditional media converge to become “media”.
“Liquid” and “Linked” content excellence is now the Coca Cola Mantra!
You only have to see the success of the Old Spice marketing campaign to realise that the convergence of media has arrived. Video that can be viewed anywhere and any time and is eminently searchable and not just on a commercial spot on TV.
Channels of Convergence
1. Television
Now we have the three screens, TV, Computer and Mobile. Making media available for all 3 formats is vital. There are rumours Apple will bring its design and branding genius to transforming TV, just as it transformed the music industry and the mobile industry – Disrupt!
It has the ecosystem the content the platforms and the technology and marketing savvy.
TV and Twitter are being used in unison as live television shows invite audience participation in real time with tweets.
Online video and television advertising is now part of the same advertising campaign with media published to both.
2. Films
Films can now be viewed on demand on any screen, if they have been converted to an online format instead of being buried in film archives and cabinets.
3. Newspapers
“Citizen Journalism” has emerged as blogs are now being accepted as a mainstream channel for industry news and events. Blogs are appearing as part of mainstream papers. User generated content provides feedback and interactivity that allows traditional newspapers to become more responsive to changing trends.
4. Traditional Radio
Radio and music can be listened to any time and anywhere, digital streaning radio, Apple iTunes, Spotify, Last FM and more!
5. Magazines
Traditional print magazines are quickly being challenged by Blogs, RSS technology and online magazines. This includes fashion and food blogs along with other topic categories such as politics, entertainment and technology.
6. Traditional Email
Social media and email continue to head towards integration as social sharing buttons are integrated into email platforms and templates with hyper links make sharing fast and easy.
7. Photos and Images
Photos and images have traditionally been kept for publishing in magazines and are often buried and forgotten on computers. Platforms such as Facebook (the largest photo sharing network on the planet),Flickr, Picasa, and Pinterest are providing platforms that socialize the previously static and traditional world of photography.
6 Takeaways in the Age of Social and Mass Media Convergence
Social media “is” becoming media and any media that doesn’t provide sharing capabilities and time and place portability will disappear.
So how do you plan for converging media?
- Create media for traditional and social (Video should be created that can be published and promoted on mass and social channels)
- Create content for the 3 screens
- Make “Liquid Content” (Coca Cola, Old Spice)
- Create business social media network channels such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for publishing and promoting your video and written content
- Use paid media such as “Search Engine Marketing” (SEM) and “Social Media Marketing” (SMM) to provide the initial catalyst.
- Create a hub such as a website or blog that becomes your central point of content publishing and then share it on social networks where your audience is
So the thinking has to continually be… How can I integrate social into my traditional media so I can make it easy for the crowd and tribes to share my content and brand?
It is time to let your content be “free” and “searchable”.
As traditional media becomes social, all media will just be “media”
More Reading
- What are 10 Addictive Types of Content?
- How to Increase Your Blog Traffic by 55% with One Button
- 5 Motivations for Sharing Content
- 20 Ideas for Social Media Content that Engages
- Is it Better to Share on Google, Facebook or Twitter+
- 9 Questions to Ask your Customers When Creating Content
Top 10 Marketing Trends of 2012
Like most businesses, you will probably have your marketing plan for 2012 already in place. But have you built your plan so that you’re ready to respond to the latest market trends?
While it’s important to stay focused, it’s equally as important to be prepared for the opportunities and challenges that will come from the latest marketing trends.
Wondering what the future looks like for marketing in the year ahead?
Here are my predictions for the top ten marketing trends of 2012:
1. A broader brand presence across channels
With the range of available marketing channels growing all the time, businesses will start to recognise the value of connecting up their marketing approach across the web, social media and other channels. This will be inspired by the need to better manage business resource in more challenging times – and to create a more streamlined brand presence. Instead of relying on one or two channel marketing approaches, more and more companies will link up their activities to create a truly coherent brand across multiple channels.
2. The rise and rise of user-generated content
User generated content took on momentum in 2011 – and this will continue into the New Year. Whether it is a YouTube video showing a customer using a product or customers sharing their experiences within a selective online community, content that comes direct from the potential or existing customer is likely to grow in value. The key test of this trend will be how successfully companies inspire and facilitate user-generated content. However they do it, it looks like the voice of the user will grow significantly in value in 2012.
3. Mobile marketing reaches critical mass
Mobile is going centre stage. A third of smartphone owners have used their device to buy a product online (Source: EPiServer) and this number is growing. The companies that fully prepare their marketing approach for mobile in 2012 are the ones that will benefit from a potential customer-base that browses – and shops – on the move. This demands targeted, mobile-ready content and a willingness to adapt internal marketing processes. With 59% of UK consumers now in possession of a smartphone and 18% owning a tablet device (Source: EPiServer), mobile marketing is a trend that businesses can’t afford to ignore.
4. The gap closes between business brands and social media
We all know social media is big news for business. But in 2012, it will be even bigger – and even slicker. Companies will start taking social media more seriously as a professional marketing tool. But it won’t just be the big companies using social media to actively connect with customers. Many more companies will start to interact, meaning customer service – and customer interaction – via social media will evolve even further. The gap between social media and the business brand will get ever smaller. Again, the user or the customer will take centre stage with the rise of the brand advocate in recommending, recruiting customers and connecting with companies in 2012.
5. A clearer vision on the value of analytics
Companies will seek to improve their understanding of marketing analytics in 2012. With increased channels and brand presence, businesses will look to clarify and streamline their marketing data. Companies will recognise the value of analytics that allow them to maximise on the flexibility of social media marketing by adapting their content according to live viewer response. Add to this an increasing focus on cost management and online marketing analytics look set to become the vital flipside of business marketing.
6. Up close and personal
Next year is the year that marketing becomes more personalised. Tailored content that is customised to the needs and interests of a specific market or audience will grow in value and popularity. This is for a number of reasons – the increasing growth of content’s role within online marketing and the growing presence of online, niche communities, for example. As people become more and more accustomed to selecting which brands and businesses can join them within their own online community, the value of personalised marketing approaches and content will continue to grow.
7. Content diversifies – again
Content has been big this year – and its role and value is likely to diversify even more in the year ahead. With the increase of personalised marketing, more companies will start to present content that is focused on telling stories about their business and products or services. But this won’t be a top down approach. Companies will need to draw out the stories from within their workforce – and encourage their workforce to share stories. In 2012, carefully crafted, managed and distributed content will play a vital role in successful business marketing.
8. The customer recommendation rules
In 2012, the voice of the user or the customer will get louder. Businesses are becoming smarter at integrating opportunities for customer feedback and response within their marketing approach. Social media word of mouth will keep growing, with people increasingly relying on their own online social circles to advise and comment on their choice of services or products. The companies that actively embrace this shift will be the ones that boost their profile and credibility in 2012.
9. The influence factor takes over
Closely linked to prediction number 9, social media influence will gain critical mass in 2012. Already gaining momentum, a powerful trend in the year to come is the ability for companies to influence, increase and map their influence across the social media channels. The power to inspire users in a real-world, but professional way will make a huge difference to their performance in 2012.
10. Video is centre stage
Anticipated to be big for quite some time, it looks likely that video is set to be one of the leading marketing trends in 2012. The growth of video within business marketing fits naturally with the broadening of social media channels and with increasing customer focus on feedback and recommendations. Expect video to take on some surprising approaches in 2012 – with many companies developing fresher and more user-focused forms of viral marketing.
How’s 2012 looking to you?
2012 is looking like a year where marketing channels and messages will diversify – and where user connection, influence and feedback will rule. Companies can stay ahead by embracing and facilitating how their customers interact with them on social media. Combine this with a more targeted content and better connected cross channel marketing can help grow your leads, customers and revenue in 2012.
Whatever your choice, the New Year is a great opportunity to review what’s been working for you – and what you want to leave behind in 2012. Look back at past marketing activities and at their ROI and other results to see what’s worked best. Then you can move on to make more leads and more customers your New Year’s resolution for 2012. Start with 40 ideas for New Year resolutions now – download this eGuide 40 New Year’s Resolutions for Marketing in 2012.
Guest Author: Sookie Shuen is the community manager at Tomorrow People, an inbound marketing consultancy. Read her Inbound Marketing Blog.
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How Instagram Harnesses the Awesome Power of Mobile, Social Media and Photos: 3 Success Stories
I have a friend who won’t stop taking photos of food whenever she eats out. It seems that no matter what restaurant (except for McDonald’s or KFC and I don’t think they qualify as restaurants) the experience seems to turn into a full photo shoot.
Every angle is explored and the correct lighting is required.
At this stage there isn’t mood music to accompany the visuals, but I am half expecting a string quartet to become involved at some stage.
The next step is for the agent to show up and a movie director.
Why is this Happening?
The convergence of technology has produced a device (smartphone) that can take the photo in high definition and publish it to Facebook and Twitter before the food is even cold. Five minutes later you can check to see if any of your friends have left a comment, shared or “liked” it!
This visual self expression and sharing culture combines the power of three.
- People’s obsession with their iPhone (read smartphone)
- Engagement power of Facebook
- The love of photos that seems to have been reinforced with the easy availability of the camera in your pocket
The only challenge for marketers is how to harness that through a touch of creativity.
How to Take Advantage of this Obsession
Marketers have realised for a long time the power of images to motivate and engage people. There are many business categories that can leverage social, mobile and photos to make their content contagious.
There is one very unassuming mobile app that emulates the simplicity of Twitter but is starting to make its presence felt that is playing with the power of “3″.
That “app” is Instagram.
Instagram is a free photo sharing application that you can download to your smartphone, that allows users to take photos, apply a filter, and share it on the service or a variety of other social networking services, including Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Tumblr, Flickr , and Posterous
3 Instagram Success Stories
Instagram’s success shows the power of simplicity coupled with the increasingly mobile and visual social networks.
Food can be made to look so inviting with a great photo (just ask my friend)
Food – Personal Brand
Lets start with a famous “chef” and personal brand called Jamie Oliver who has over 170,000 followers on Instagram and doesn’t miss the ongoing opportunities to market his personal brand, cooking shows and publications with visual online sharing.
Check out Jamie’s Instagram
Beverages – Coffee
StarBucks as one of the largest brands based on follower count on Instagram with over 200,000 followers realises the engagement opportunities.
Alexandra Wheeler, VP of global marketing for the coffee giant says this about Instagram “Photography plays such an important role in how we visually share Starbucks offerings and experiences,..this will continue to be a great network to connect with our customers as it grows.”
Fashion
Fashion brands are a perfect fit for Instagram. Burberry gives followers behind-the-scene glimpses at fashion shows and photo shoots.
Instagram Ecosystem
There is a complete application and business ecosystem building around Instagram and John Jantsch at the Duct Tape marketing blog mentions the following 6 tools that enhance Instagram.
- iDarkroom – This isn’t really an Instagram related tool, but it’s a great tool to use to enhance your images before you upload them to Instagram
- Webstagram – This tool helps you search, sort, tag, follow and comment on photos shared by other users. One of the ways to make Instagram pay off is to build a following and part of that is done by finding and following relevant users and adding your comments to their images.
- Postagram – Postagram allows you to turn any Instagram image into a postcard with the push of a button. Then Postgram sends your postcard for less than dollar. Think about how you could send product images to customers or showcase a project you’re working.
- Printstagram – This tool takes your Instagram images and allows you to turn them into posters, mini prints, and mini books.
- StickyGram – This app takes your custom Instrgram shots and turns them into magnets. It’s like having your own little promotional products creator right in your phone, but potentially much cooler.
- Canvas Pop – If you want to take up a notch Canvas Pop will take your Instagram images and print them on canvas frames.
How could you use Instagram to spread your brands message and content?
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18 Key Observations about the State of Blogging in 2011
Blogging is a profession and a passion that has been transformational.
The feedback has changed and informed me. I have written, travelled, presented and networked.
It has allowed me to learn and to communicate with a global audience that has been enlightening, inspiring and empowering.
It asks questions of you. Will people appreciate your thoughts and views? Will I be seen as funny, clever or just an impostor and interloper?
It is a place for courageous people and those who have a thirst for learning.
The Naked Blogger
Blogging exposes you to a world wide audience that sees all your ideas, thoughts, spelling and grammar mistakes.
The term the “Naked Blogger” has a certain truth.
Brian Appleyard of the “London Times” says this about blogging.
“The blogscape is not for the faint-hearted….There’s a shocking disconnect between one fact — you sitting at your computer — and the next — what you just wrote being instantly visible to the entire world. Try to think of it as like stepping out of the toilet to find yourself standing on the centre spot at Wembley on cup-final day”.
But don’t let that image stop you blogging!
I have met the most awesome people that have reminded me of how connected we are and how lucky we are to live in a time of technology that provides us with boundless opportunities.
What have I Learned about Blogging in 2011?
It continues to surprise me as the social web continues to transform society and culture.
So what some key observations for me in 2011?
- People want more Infographics
- The continuing evolution of an increasingly “visual web” that communicates quickly and efficiently with images.(Pinterest and Tumblr)
- People “love” sharing
- Social media has supercharged blogging
- People’s continuing obsession with Facebook
- Twitter is still an enigma
- The contagious leverage of “liquid content“
- People’s thirst for learning
- The power of a competitor to drive change as the success of Google+ has increased the speed of evolution at Facebook
- The mobile Internet cannot be ignored
What have you learned about blogging in 2011?
The Bible of Blogging Survey
Technorati is known within blogging circles as the “Bible of Blogging” and once a year it surveys the blogosphere to find out what directions and trends that are influencing bloggers and the state of blogging.
Here are some key findings that I thought were worth sharing.
1. Bloggers are Influenced by other Blogs
The blogosphere is influencing itself – respondents say that the number one influence on the topics they blog about are other blogs they read, a huge jump from 2010.
2.What Content when Blogging about a Brand Produce the Most Positive Response?
Among Hobbyists and Professionals working with brands, product reviews have elicited the most positive response. Among Corporate and Entrepreneur bloggers, the best response has come from advice or consultative content.
3. How Many Bloggers are Approached By Brands to Review Products
Bloggers are being actively courted. Nearly four out of 10 overall, 59% of Professional Part Timers, and 66% of Professional Full Timers have been approached to write about or review products. Pros are approached eight times per week on average. The most frequently approached Hobbyist, Professional Part Time, Professional Full Time, and Entrepreneur bloggers report being approached more than 200 times per week.
4. Is Blogging Being Taken More Seriously?
More than two thirds believe their blogs are getting taken more seriously as sources of information, with 76% of Professional Full Timers agreeing.
5. Media Habits of Bloggers
14% of bloggers spend at least 21 hours per week visiting social media sites. About two thirds spend less than an hour watching TV shows on their computer, tablet or smartphone or uploading photos to photo-sharing sites.
6. Blogs for Ideas, Inspiration and Entertainment
This is the second year we surveyed consumers on their trust of and attitudes toward the media they consume. Compared with other media, blogs continue to outpace other social media and many traditional media in terms of trust and generating consumer recommendations and purchases. Facebook remains somewhat influential, but less so than blogs, and Twitter has seen a drop in influence over the past year.
7. Why Do Bloggers Blog?
70% of all bloggers use their blog to share their expertise and experience with others. Professionals also use their blog as a way to make money or supplement their income. Corporate and Entrepreneur bloggers are looking to gain professional recognition, while also using their blog as a way to attract new clients to their business.
8.The Impact of Blogging on a Blogger’s Life
Overall, respondents seem to feel that blogging has had a positive impact on their personal life. 54% of respondents agree that they have made friends through their blog, and the same number agree that they have become more involved with their passion areas as a result of blogging. More than 60% of Corporate and Entrepreneur bloggers have gained greater visibility in their industry through blogging.
9. Bloggers and Twitter
82% of bloggers surveyed are using Twitter, with almost all Professional Full Timers (93%) and Professional Part Timers (91%) using Twitter and having on average over 1,000 followers. Those who use Twitter say they do so to promote their blog (77%), follow friends (60%), and bring interesting links to light (59%). Professional, Corporate, and Entrepreneur bloggers use Twitter to promote themselves professionally.
10. Bloggers and Facebook
Almost nine out of ten bloggers surveyed (89%) use Facebook. 50% of all bloggers have separate Facebook pages for their blog and for their personal account, a jump from only 34% last year.
Among respondents who have only a personal Facebook page, 60% are not linking their page to their blog in any way.
The Importance of a Facebook page for the Professional Blogger
Facebook the Marketing Network
Among Facebook users, the most common reason for using the social network is to promote one’s blog. 61% of Entrepreneur bloggers use Facebook to promote their business.
11. Bloggers and Google+
More than six out of ten respondents use Google+. Of those who use this service only 13% have a separate account for their blog and personal use.
11. The Most Effective Social Media Marketing Tools
Other than Facebook and Twitter, the most popular social networking platforms among respondents are LinkedIn and YouTube. Not surprisingly, respondents found Facebook and Twitter to be the most effective social networking tools to market their blogs and drive traffic.
12. What do the Marketers Say about Blogging?
Some quotes from the marketers.
“We usually have the option to share an article and/or an entire custom unit on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Additionally, we are running a blogging placement that allows bloggers to engage, then blog about it amongst their peers.”
“Social media is the glue to the mass messages. We attempt to integrate all of our campaigns so the paid, owned and earned are all working together. We do this for all of our clients.”
“I would have to say blogging and how it is being used has been the biggest development in social media. Individuals trust bloggers, especially those who are seen as influential. Blogging can either have a positive or negative effect on a campaign, brand or product. Individuals will make decisions based on comments made by their peers or by someone they feel confident in.”
13. The Top Blogging Platforms
WordPress is the most popular blog hosting service among all respondents, used by 51%. Blogger and Blogspot hosting services are also popular (21% and 14%).
14. The Top Blogging Tools
Particular blogging tools are very widespread among bloggers, especially built-in syndication (75%) and social sharing widgets (75%), as well as site search (58%). Among bloggers who use built-in syndication, the majority (76%) support full content.
15. Why Bloggers Don’t have Advertising
Among those who do not have advertising on their blogs, 52% say they do not have advertising because they don’t want their blogs to be cluttered with ads, while 38% said they don’t have enough visitors to make it worthwhile. Another 36% are not interested in making money on their blog.
16. How do Bloggers Manage Advertising
Among those with advertising on their blog, 60% use self-serve tools, while 50% have affiliate advertising links on their site.
17. How Do Bloggers make Their Money?
Most blog-related revenue is generated through giving speeches on blogging topics and advertising.
18. Professional Bloggers Get the Most Traffic
Professional bloggers receive the most views, with over half of the blogs viewed more than 10,000 times per month.
What do think about the survey? Does anything surprise you?
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Image by Mr. Pierpy
The Top 10 Brands on Facebook and What You Can Learn from them to Grow your Fans [Plus Infographic]
Facebook has become the online home for both people and business. It has become “the” social network .![The Top 10 Brands on Facebook and What You Can Learn from them to Grow your Fans [Plus Infographic]](http://www.jeffbullas.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/The-Top-10-Brands-on-Facebook-and-What-You-Can-Learn-from-them-to-Grow-your-Fans-Plus-Infographic.jpg "The Top 10 Brands on Facebook and What You Can Learn from them to Grow your Fans [Plus Infographic]")
Who would have thought that the result of Mark Zuckerberg’s broken heart in 2004 would would create a social network that is projected to reach 1 billion users in August 2012.
That is nearly one in two of every Internet user on the planet. (Maybe we should have more dramatic events in our personal life to provide the fuel and passion to change the planet and our lives!)
Should You Close Down your Website?
Some businesses have even made Facebook their primary web asset and closed down their website. (not recommended as Facebook has been known to suspend “pages” with no notice and no apparent reason).
Websites in the past were boring, text based, one way static platforms that didn’t allow conversation or communication (except for the ubiquitous contact form).
Many CEO’s are still loath to participate but this is diminishing as they are earning the reputation of being “flat earthers” for not realizing that the world is round and social. (remember Galileo who put forward the crazy notion of the world being round )
Facebook has changed the web dynamics and provides a ready to use multimedia platform and social network that communicates in real time with fans and customers. This provides instant feedback that is vital in a fast moving commercial world.
The “Big” Facebook Pages
So which brands and entities are the top performers on Facebook and collected tens of millions of Facebook fans?
Top Brands
- Coca Cola
- StarBucks
- Oreo
- Red Bull
- Converse Allstar
Top Superstars and Entities
- Lady Gaga
- Rihanna
- Eminem
- YouTube
How can You Increase Your Facebook Fans?
One of the best tips to increase your Facebook fans is to provide what is called “liquid content” which is content so contagious it cannot be controlled. This will make people visit and “like” your page.
I have had some fun lately on Facebook posting, images, quotes, cartoons and comics that are fun and sometimes seemingly frivolous but what I have noticed is that the engagement level has increased dramatically (by more then 50%).
This in turn drives your content further into the Facebook network and increases the likes through increased sharing. The other benefit is to improve your Facebook Edge Rank and consequently more fans see your Facebook page updates in their Timeline.
The continuing evolution of a more visual web is what you should keep in mind when creating or posting content. Highly visual content performs much better than text or links in driving likes and shares and commments. (but don’t forget to include deep linked content as it is your foundation)
The celebrities have the resources to pursue best practice with designers and developers on tap, but what are some basic tips to assist you with your goal of increasing your Facebook fan base.
7 Tips to Increase your Facebook Fans
These are the core principles that the major Facebook brands use to build their fan base and should provide you with some ideas to get you started.
1. Define Your Target Market
You need to know who you are talking to so that the words and content that you use are congruent with what they like.
2. Get the Tone Right
You need to act the same way your target market so as too gain their trust. Get to understand them
3. Identify which Types of Engagement are Effective
Have some fun and don’t be afraid to experiment. The reactions (or lack of) will be the guide for the engagement types you pursue.
4. Look at it as a Long-Term Investment
You are building an online asset and like investment in property or saving it will take time. So persist and be patient
5. Keep it Real, Relevant and Relaxed
It is important to be “you”. If you are a blogger then the Facebook page is an extension of your personal brand. Don’t force it
6. Create a Schedule for Updates
This doesn’t have to be complex. Once a day used to be the rule of thumb but I have been experimenting with 2-3 updates a day and it seems to be working well. A large brand such as fashion will need to
7. Monitor and Measure
Facebook Insights is a great tool that provides measuremenst of elements such as Facevook Fan growth and even Virality of your content.
So what success have you had increasing your fan count and what tactics have you tried?
The Importance of a Facebook Fan Base
Click Image to Enlarge 
Source: The Importance Of A Fan Base Infographic
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Image by voodooangel
6 Tips to Make an Awesome Impact with Social Media
If you’ve begun your pursuit of success and fame via social media you’ve probably found yourself spending a lot of time on your social network of choice.
There is so much great information to read and so many connections to be made – where do you draw the line?
Can you really make an impact without spending half of your day commenting, interacting, and retweeting?
Very simply, yes. But, (there is always a but, isn’t there?) you need to be efficient. Luckily, with the use of some easy methods, online tools, and a hint of discipline you can take less of your time and make a bigger impact. Interested? I thought you might be. Here are some tips to help your online voice resonate with your target audience.
Tip 1. Researching your Audience.
You need to ask yourself the 6 W’s.
1. Who is your audience?
2. Where can you find them (what networks are they on)?
3. When are they most likely to engage in a conversation online?
4. Why should they connect with you online?
5. What do they want to know about?
6. How do they want information sent to them (Facebook page updates, an informal YouTube video, Twitter chat, etc.)?
If you aren’t sure where to start, Crowdbooster.com is a great resource to help you research your audience. Not only will you gain insight on how to make a bigger impact within your target audience, the tool will provide analytics so you can track how well you are doing.
Crowdbooster Dashboard
Tip 2. Establish a Plan and Stick to it.
Based on what you discovered in step one, establish a schedule to meet your audience where they are and provide what they want, when they want it. Part of your plan should include a time allocation. If you have 15 minutes a day to allocate, how can you use what you learned in step one to make the biggest impact?
If you are having trouble sticking to your time allocation, head over to the web store on Google Chrome and download StayFocusd (or LeechBlock for Firefox). This extension is a countdown timer for your Internet usage. Simply set how much time you want to allocate to a specific site and once the clock hits zero that site is blacklisted for the rest of the day.
StayFocusd (for Chrome)
Tip 3. Outline Specific Goals
Do you want to increase traffic to your website? Are you looking to increase the attendance at you next conference?
Once the focus of your goal is set, establish key performance indicators to track how well you are doing in reaching your goals. If you want to increase traffic to your website, how many new visitors do you want to be directed via social media? If you are looking to boost attendance, how many more seats do you do want filled? Crowdbooster, Radian6, Viralheat, and Google Analytics are among the many tools that can help you track your progress.
If you tend to fall down the rabbit hole, post something over your monitor to remind you of the goals you’re working towards.
Tip 4. Spend more Time Crafting your Content
With the amount of content your audience sorts through on a daily basis it is important to publish a great message that captures their attention. A throwaway status update won’t have the same impact as a well-crafted update. By focusing on quality over quantity your impact can grow exponentially. For example, if you have 5,000 followers on Twitter and you draft an average tweet you have the potential to reach 5,000 people. If you spend an extra few minutes to draft an excellent tweet you will be more likely to be retweeted by your followers (which exponentially expands the visibility of your tweet to all of their followers as well).
Tip 5. Multitask
Multitasking isn’t always the best way to be productive, but some activities lend themselves very well to multitasking. For example, using your mobile phone to interact with your audience while riding in cabs or waiting for appointments is a great use of your time. I’ve even been known to tweet from the treadmill.
Tip 6. Adapt
Technology is changing at a faster pace than ever before. To not adapt to change is to fall by the wayside. Tweak your methods and your investment based on the progress you make towards your goals and what your audience is looking for.
What other tried and true methods do you use to make an impact on your network without using your entire day? Any great social media tools that you couldn’t live with out? Let us know!
Guest Author: As the founder of Powerhouse Strategy, Kristi Daeda helps businesses nationwide create and optimize custom online marketing programs. Connect with her on Twitter @kristid
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