Want to be successful on Social Media? Follow these tips from the Experts.

As an entrepreneur, it is my job to travel the world, a lot. Get introduced to new individuals, learn new things and implement those new ideas for reaping all the benefits involved. Social media is the latest addition to rising entrepreneurs under the list of factors of production and ability to utilize it effectively can guarantee the best possible returns.

Credits:http://thetechnews.com/2016/08/27/want-to-be-successful-on-social-media-follow-these-tips-by-heart/

Why do you need Content Marketing?

Today, content marketing has grown to be the most effective and powerful tool for doing business and connecting with the target customers online. Upto 73% businesses rely on content marketing for promotion. When a prospective customer finds you through the content you provide, they begin to form a connection with you built on trust.  It is non-intrusion advertising, rather than pitching your products or services, you are conveying data that makes your purchaser more savvy.

Content marketing provides targeted audience with relevant information that can provide a solution to a particular need- a problem, an improvement or simply informations.

Benefits of using Content Marketing

• Increases Traffic to the Website:

With customers gaining relevant and non-intrusive information, they favour your website for information.

• Improved SEO

Great content attracts editorial links, which tell Google you're important and relevant. Google can also crawl your content, getting a far better idea of what your company is about, allowing it to return your site for more relevant queries.

• Direct customer conversions

Great content can play crucial role in convincing potential buyer to make a purchase.

• Brand Awareness

When there is consistency and quality in the content posted, it helps customer identify trust with your brand and establish a brand image in the market.

• Recognition in the Industry

With good and relevant content, people in the industry start recognising your Blog as a source of credible information. It positions your business as an expert in your industry.

• Open Communication

With everyone from potential customer to industry experts, active on social media platforms, it  opens a dialogue through social shares and comments.

• No Strings Attached Information

The customers rely more on your business as Content Marketing provides value with no strings attached.

Although Content Marketing is easier to grasp as a concept, there are a few factors to keep in mind while implementing any Content Marketing Strategy. Some of these factors are:

• Determining your goals

The first and foremost step is to determine your goals for your marketing strategy and the role and scope of content marketing in the same. It gives you an overall direction for the long run and keeps the strategy in check from deviations

• Focus on Audience

While implementing your content marketing strategy, keep in mind your potential and existing audiences, their needs and preferences to gain the maximised results out of each content that you post.

• Time and Resource Allocation

Each content requires time and resource to make it credible and effective. Hence, proper time and resource allocation becomes vital for the content’s success.

• Platform to post Content

Each industry has the customers preferring a certain platform for information, hence it is important to identify the platform where your content will receive the maximum relevant audience.

• Measuring the effectiveness

Just like any strategy or plan it is important to keep measuring its effectiveness to gain feedback on what is working and what needs more improvement.

Almost any type of content, video, article or graphic, can lead links back to your website. If your content generates a lot of buzz and people start linking to it, the SEO link value from your content will only become stronger. Modern marketers understand that “set it and forget it” marketing strategy does not work anymore. To generate real leads online, you need to invest in a meaningful and effective content marketing strategy.

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.- Aristotle

Which social media sites are popular for business ?

Businesses are using a variety of sources to inform their marketing strategy. However, insights gathered through social-media monitoring have finally overtaken more traditional metrics such as market share data and brand tracking to become the most popular component used by marketers.

Credits:http://www.campaignasia.com/article/social-media-overtakes-traditional-metrics-for-brands-tns-study/428792

Which social media sites are popular for business ?

Social media marketing revolutionised the digital marketing scenario across the Globe. It not only provided low-maintenance and cost effective platforms for marketing but also opened up ways for small businesses to interact with their existing and potential customers. To create an effective social media marketing strategy, it is important to identify the social media sites that are most suitable to your industry, product and customer base and create a strong presence on such social media websites. Below are some major social media sites which have good reach and have proved useful for businesses.  

Facebook

With more than 1.55 billion active users, facebook is the biggest social networking website today. Since its launch in 2004, facebook has transformed from being just a social interaction platform to a website where large number of people connect globally. Facebook has become a versatile tool for businesses through its various features like the Pages Feature and Ads Manager.  A simple like or share on your Facebook page can help your business to increase its reach with the people who may not known you. You can use it to share photos, videos, important company updates and more.   

Twitter

Twitter is a micro-blogging website launched in 2004 with more than 300 million users worldwide. The messages conveyed are short precise and in 140 characters or less. Twitter is all the rage amongst youngsters, celebrities and big brands alike. Because of its wide reach, Twitter is not only a great way to market your business but also an effective channel for handling customer service.   

Youtube   

YouTube is a video sharing social media site where a new video is uploaded every minute. It is a great platform for small businesses to incorporate videos in your online marketing strategy and embed videos to your website. These videos can be infomercials, tutorials, product launches, offers, blogs etc.   

Linkedin 

Launched in 2003, Linkedin has become the premier B2B social networking site. Linkedin is a great platform for Networking with local professionals and Connecting with people in similar industries. And like other social networking sites Linkedin aides in Lead generation & reputation management for your business.   

Pinterest 

Pinterest is a very powerful image-based social media website. It consists of digital bulletin boards where users can save and display content they like in the form of pins. Pinterest connects users and boards with similar interests and thus helps boost the business in amongst a potential customer base.  

Instagram 

Like Pinterest, Instagram too is an visual based social media platform. Instagram started out as an image sharing site, but has now morphed into a site which has more advertising power than any other social media site. Instagram is used by businesses for sharing pictures and short video clips, creating their brand image by sharing company culture and “behind-the-scenes” insights. The main factor which boosted Instagram's acceptance amongst users were its filters and tools to easily edit pictures.  

Google+ 

Google Plus’s popularity is partially due to its SEO value. Google+ is great for getting customer reviews to show up in search results. Google+ has many features crafted with keeping the user in mind such as Hangouts, Circles, Messenger, Instant Upload etc.

The Top Dos and Don’ts in Effective Social Media Management

Social media is the Swiss Army Knife of businesses in the 21st century. We use social media to drive our branding efforts, connect with customers, generate new leads, gain insights into buying habits, manage reputation, and bolster our digital footprint.

Credits:https://www.searchenginejournal.com/top-dos-donts-effective-social-media-management/169626/

To trust God in the light is nothing, but trust him in the dark that is faith. – C.H. Spurgeon

How is Facebook a digital marketing tool for business?

Social media marketing is incomplete without facebook and facebook marketing. Even with other social websites present, facebook still holds the #1 spot for online social interactions. Today facebook has grown from being just a social media website for friends to reconnect, into venue where businesses can easily market themselves among their target audience.

Since, social media sites provide an individual touch to the consumer, a facebook page acts as a  free marketing tool for businesses providing a great platform to identify themselves to the customers; and that too not just by sharing their product listings but also by sharing links, images, and information. When combined, with other digital marketing strategies, it can prompt increased deals and benefits for the business.  

Here are a few reasons why facebook is gaining more attention by business owners:  

1. It is Cost-Effective

In the time and age of startups and entrepreneurs, a free digital marketing tool like facebook provides a boost in creating brand awareness without much of an investment as required in traditional marketing tools like print media. Hence, many small business owners prefer marketing through only facebook and at times operate through their facebook pages to close sales. Also, for small businesses and startups it provides a free platform to display their work even without creating and managing a website. 

2. Introduction to the business

Through the business’s facebook page, you can not only share your basic details such as contact info, website, industry details, scope of business etc. but also the vision behind it, all the people or staff involved. This adds a human touch to the business thus making it easier for the consumer to easily accept and connect with it. Potential clients can also view the reviews and ratings by existing clients which gives them an additional push to make the purchase. 

3. Interact with the customers in real time  

Today there are inumerous facebook groups for various industries, interests and even geographical areas. This makes it even easier for the businesses to interact with potential and existing clients and answer queries. This also provides exposure amongst other customers with similar interests and preferences. Customers can also make inquiries through posting on the facebook wall or sending a message over facebook messenger.  

4. Create and raise brand awareness

With each and every like on even a single post, your facebook page gains more visibility which in turn creates more awareness about the business or product. Whenever someone likes or share or even comments on any post, it appears on their wall where it is visible to all their friends. This  not only spreads awareness about your business but the fact that it is liked by a friend adds a vote of confidence for others. 

 5. Steer traffic to your website 

To bring exposure to your complete product listings, it is very important to bring the customer to your website. This can be done by providing the official website link on the facebook page and once the customer’s interest is piqued they move to the website where other stronger advertising messages.

Have thousands of followers on Twitter? How social you are affects your work life

While social media checks were common in the job market, the number of people who follow you is a new criteria. 

Credits:www.hindustantimes.com/business-newspaper/how-social-you-are-affects-your-work-life/story-HWOt96gVW27rhhNfEMHICO.html