Optimizing Social Media for Your Brand

Using social media can be an overwhelming task for many individuals. I've created a video presentation that serves to help those getting their feet wet in social media, or those looking to expand their reach. Starting with understanding your brand, we move into the do's and don'ts of how to use Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. 

Feel free to watch it directly on the Youtube channel!

Social Media Facts from 2013

Battle of the Sexes in Social Media

It shouldn't come as a surprise that women are the gender that dominate social media. Women love to talk, socialize and gossip, so naturally, they would be the ones more actively involved in the "social" aspect of social media.

The men, however, they sure dominate the visual aspect taking in the most viewers on YouTube. According to the Infographic below (I know, I can't help how much I love INFOGRAPHICS!), about 25% of men watch YouTube daily, compared with 17% of women.

In video streaming, women are not too far off, but clearly men are watching more and are much more active in the professional social media pages, such as LinkedIn.

This is really important information for marketing and targeting the correct demographic for your product.

So there you have it...Battle of the Sexes in Social Media in a nutshell.

Learn the Hashtag

Here we go again with the INFOGRAPHICS...what can I say? I love them! Here's a great way to see which #hashtags you should use when Tweeting:

If you're unable to zoom...check it out here.

Create Perfect Posts on Social Platforms [INFOGRAPHIC]

So many times we post without even thinking about it. The same way many people have not filter on what comes out of their mouths, the same occurs in what they type within social media. 

I found this great Infographic on "How to Create Perfect Posts on Social Platforms" by Myclever Agency. I'm a fan of visual images when it comes to remembering and learning and frankly, this infographic is much more interesting than having me outline it; but for a detailed posting on this, check out this article. 

Create Perfect Posts in Social Media

Believe it or not, you can create a "perfect post" within each social media outlet. Maybe it won't be absolutely perfect, but it will optimize the views and reposts it receives just by following these great tips found in this Infographic. 

Infographic source: http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/files/2013/06/perfect-social-media-posts.png

(Source: mycleveragency.)

Amanda Bynes vs. Rihanna

In light of the current storm between Amanda Bynes and Rihanna, I thought it only appropriate to drudge up a previous blog post I wrote.

In January of this year, I posted on "Celebrities in Social Media: Best and Worst" where I voiced my opinion on celebrities championing the social media arena, while one celebrity, not so much; of course, out of ALL the celebrities that failed in social media, I chose to highlight Amanda Bynes.

Periodic Table of Social Media

While I hated science and especially the Periodic Table, this a creative way to layout social media that we use today.

Provided by Social Media Today, here's an insightful infographic:

Source: http://visual.ly/2013-periodic-table-social-media

Best and Worst Times to Post on Social Media

Source: SocialMediaDelivered.com

If you're going to invest your precious time in social media for yourself, company or organization, make sure you're getting the most out of it.

You may have great content and exciting tweets, but if you're not posting it at the most opportune times, you may just be wasting it.

Business Plan or No Business Plan? That is the Question. Dr. Steve Gedeon vs. Chuck Blakeman

In discussing business plans with “experts” that have been successful in the creation of businesses, I wanted to highlight two contrasting opinions that could serve a young entrepreneur well for future planning.

The Experts

Source: www.siferyerson.com

First, let’s introduce Dr. Steve Gedeon. Here’s the rundown of why he is considered an “expert” in the field of business planning:

·      1^st place prizewinner of the 3E Learning Award for his workshop Investment Negotiation

·      Professor in Entrepreneurship and Strategy at Ted Rogers School of Management

·      Expert in business plans – both writer and reviewer

·      Motivational Speaker and Coach

·      Venture Capitalist

·      MS and PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I could have continued with his list, but for the sake of time, you can just visit his accomplishments at his educator’s page. 

Source: si0,twimg.com

The second expert we will observe is Chuck Blakeman. Here’s a brief overview of why he was chosen:

·      Internationally acclaimed business speaker

·      Featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, CNNMoney.com, NYTimes.com, and various other business blogs and online magazines

·      Founded and owns the Crankset Group, which works with businesses owners

·      Started and built seven successful businesses in 25 years in U.S. and internationally

Tips to Increase Website Traffic Using Social Media

According to Hubspot.com, social media accounts for 1 out of every 6 minutes spent online. If social media accounts for 1/6 of the time people spend online, what is your business doing to capture some of that attention?

Check out this quick video showing how to generate leads through social media.
NOTE: This is an advertisement for Hubspot's services, but the stats represented in the video are great for understanding how social media can create business for you.

After seeing the importance of using social media to generate traffic, what is the next step?

Stay relational in a digital world

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Source: http://www.nielsen.com/

It is easy to be consumed in social media, since it has become the norm in the United States. According to the Nielsen Social Media Report, Americans spend over 2 billion hours on social media per month. 

 

As a society, we are spending more time in the digital world than the real world. 

 

Let’s face it, unless you live under a rock (or are Amish) there’s no real way to avoid social media interaction in the digital world (if you’re reading this, you’ve made my point). Even those that have tried to avoid it for so many years have succumbed to its addictive nature.

Print media uses social media

Source: http://www.mphpl.org/newSite/newspapers/index.html

Despite the decline of sales over the past decade, print media (e.g. magazines and newspapers) has found ways to engage subscribers and readers using social media.

While it is naturally easier to use and incorporate social media with online publications, more and more publishing companies are using it to enhance print publications.

Rihanna rocks the social networking scene

Social networking is a powerful tool for celebrities, athletes and businesses, and someone who has proven how to use it best is Rihanna.

Now you know social media has become a beast of its own when someone can be called the “most famous socialite online”, and yet that was a title given to Rihanna as she continued to break record numbers of fans and followers in social media.

Ranking #5 on Twitter followers starting 2013, Rihanna dominated social media in all of 2012. For the past two years, she and Lady Gaga have vied for the top place, but 2012 was her year. 

Celebrities in Social Media: Best and Worst

Social Media has become a very normal part of our everyday lives. At this point, even if you’ve been a laggard, according to the diffusion of innovations theory, it’s safe to say you’ve probably joined one form of social media and participated in at least one or more forms. Why? Because you can’t escape it!

Even celebrities have realized the potential for star status and growth in their careers by using social media.

With hundreds of thousands of celebrities, which ones are making social media work for them and which ones are not?

Creating a buzz using Social Media

Inspired by a reader's comment on a previous post, I decided to write about how to create buzz as a business in social media.

So where do you start?

Integration of Social Media in Event Planning

Courtesy of http://ahleventsblog.com/

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Event planning in the entertainment industry can cover anything from concerts, private galas, VIP parties, award presentations and after parties. Throughout the years, event planning in the entertainment industry has moved towards depending largely on technology.

It is now commonplace to find technology integrated in event planning through:

·      Lighting and digital lighting boards for moving lights

·      Sound (digital boards have overtaken analog)

·      Digital photography

·      Concept and design for event (created digitally)

·      Planning software

·      Online ticket sales

A Day in the Life of Social Media....

Social Media is taking over our lives and society...by choice. We wonder what we did 10 years ago without it. You can't leave your home without your cell phone or all is lost.

We've become so dependent on technology and "staying connected" that we don't know what it is to not have access to Internet for over a day...I'll tell you what it's called: VACATION.

Check out this great video that gives a quick overview of a day in the life of social media.

One major point in this next video triggers many of my future blog posts:

"Only 14% of people TRUST ADVERTISING, and 90% TRUST RECOMMENDATIONS via social media"

Guess what that means: advertisers have already and will continue to infiltrate our trust, emotions, and buying decisions based on "recommendations" we see from other friends and family members participating in social media.

Check it out:

Power of Social Media

Influence of Social media

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Let me begin by saying that everyday we are influenced in some way, shape or form by this multi-billion dollar industry called entertainment.

My generation has grown up in a time when media and entertainment advanced and changed at the speed of light! From the advancement of VHS, Laser Discs, DVDs, BluRay and even 3D, all the way to cassette tapes, CDs and MP3s, the entertainment industry has changed drastically and we've all seen it firsthand.