Posts Tagged facebook
Choosing your platform, Book Outline “Crush It!” part 6
Posted by eviator in For Job Seekers on December 28, 2009
There are basically three different formats that you can choose from to produce content on the web, video, audio, or written word (or a combination of these). In chapter 6, Choose Your Platform, Vaynerchuk discusses some of the more popular online platforms…
Wordpress and Tumblr:
All other platforms you use should lead here to your blog. It should be your headquarters. Wordpress is an excellent service, and incorporates many features. It can be challenging to master, but can pay off in a big way. Tumblr is an alternative to Wordpress that is very easy to use and while lacking some of Wordpress’ bells and whistles, succeeds in getting the job done. Personally I recommend Tumblr (this is what I use), especially for the person with a $0 budget, for one big reason. They will host your domain for free. Awesome I know.
Regardless of which blog platform you choose, you should always take advantage of the call to action buttons (Like that button on the right that says Share). Having this type of button on your page can be an excellent way to build some word of mouth.
Facebook:
I love Facebook. It’s an excellent way to share all types of information, photographs, news articles, videos, etc with your friends and contacts. You can set up a personal profile for yourself, as well as a fan page (like my favorite local comic shop Keith’s Comics… http://www.facebook.com//keithscomics). The advantage of using a fan page is that you can have an infinite number of fans (there’s a 5,000 person limit on your profile). Also, it’s?an excellent non-intrusive way to get your messages out to your customers (as opposed to spaming them with emails).
Twitter:
I’ll admit, I’m a bit puzzled when it comes to Twitter, but after reading Vaynerchuk’s book I’m definitely reconsidering using it. Basically you can use Twitter to put out content, and follow other people’s content. Most importantly, it allows you to start conversations with people. As with other social media platforms, Twitter can be used effectively to lure people to your blog… assuming your blog is relevant and interesting to your followers. Vaynerchuk suggests the following website (www.chrisbrogan.com/50-ideas-on-using-twitter-for-business), and I agree. It is an excellent resource for those interested in using Twitter to effectively market a business (or your personal brand).
Flickr:
Flickr is a picture hosting site that can be used to either post pictures that lead back to your blog, or you can post intriguing comments on other people’s pictures that will lead back to your blog. Just remember, if you are posting comments, you should stay relevant and tasteful; don’t just post something for the sake of posting it.
Youtube and/or Viddler:
Youtube is one of my favorite time-wasting websites. I use it all the time to search for music concerts, classic boxing matches, video game playthroughs, and tons of other fun content. It’s such a huge site that it’s very easy to get lost among all the other people out there doing the same thing that you’re doing. Viddler is a smaller site, and you can even put your logo at the bottom of your videos (instead of having a Youtube logo on it). Viddler also allows you to earmark specific segments of your video which works well for someone posting reviews and such. If video is your thing, there’s no reason to not use both.
Ustream.tv:
Ustream.tv is a live video program that includes chat functions. Vaynerchuk suggests that it is excellent for radio shows or a home shopping network style show. I haven’t tried it myself, but if you’ve had success with it, I’d love to hear your story (email me at EdwardViator [at] evil-marketer [dot] com).
Everyone is starting to use these sites, but don’t let that discourage you. As long as you do things your way in your style, you will be able to differentiate yourself with no problem.
In addition to these sites, you should look into using www.ping.fm which allows you to post small updates on a bunch of sites (like facebook and twitter) all at once, and www.tubemogul.com?which essentially does the same thing, but for video content. Tube Mogul is also excellent for analytics (as is google analytics). Vaynerchuk recommends www.somewhatfrank.com/2008/12/social-media-my.html for a full list of social media tools.
Notable quotes from this chapter:
- The difference between promoting your brand via traditional marketing and advertising mediums and doing it via social networking platforms is like the difference between sending a message by pony express and chatting on instant messenger.
- Twitter is perhaps the most powerful brand-building tool in your tool box.
- The best business tweet of all time… What can I do for you?
- It’s not about?how many viewers you have, it’s about how passionate they are.
Using Social sites to generate awareness for your company
Posted by Steve in Customers, For Job Seekers, Plan on April 30, 2009
More people are finding the numerous social networks online a valuable tool in generating awareness. They are very low cost and can have a high impact…if they get the following they want.
MySpace was one of the first social networks to hit it HUGE. Started a few years ago, it stays small until over a period of three months it explodes in users. Finally, the owners sell to NewsCorp for a lot of money and enjoy their windfall. MySpace remains one of the most popular social networks. Its primary demographic is the teenager, and person involved with/interested in entertainment.
Facebook is rapidly becoming more popular in the mainstream. Instead of just teenagers, the mainstream adult population is embracing it. Why? It looks more “average” so appeals to the average person.
Twitter just recently exploded with users. Instead of having a space, it provides a real-time channel directly between people. Limited to 140 characters you have to be concise. The problem with this, is that any busy entrepreneur, investor, (or anyone else for that matter) really does not have time to engage in a Twitter. Makes me wonder what all that wasted time could be turned to… but I digress.
How can you take advantage of social sites? When looking at how you use a social network, consider the stakeholders: the company (and the entrepreneurs), customers, stockholders, investors, and people affected by the customer’s use of the products/services. We should also include the potentials of each of those categories and those the “affected” people are usually the customers of the customers. Remember, why does a company buy your stuff? The answer is to make more money selling their stuff to someone (maybe you!).
Who is your primary audience, and what would they like to see, do, or say? Answer this question, and you will figure out how to use it. One technique to use is Voice of Customer, VOC. More on that in a later post.
I found a link to an article written Nov 27, 2006 by Eileen Cruz Coleman on techsoup.
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/archives/page9173.cfm
The article talks about how certain non-profits take advantage of MySpace. To summarize:
- Raise awareness about their cause, product, or service.
- Keep people informed on the current status of their company or activities.
- Engage an audience and create a two-way dialogue with their stakeholders.
- Offer tools that enable a stakeholder to participate online and offline.
- Direct people to their own website and to take action, becoming “customers”, “users” and overall lending more credibility to the company’s program.
The two biggest concerns were time (resources) and monitoring content to keep it on message. They welcome dissent and discussion of differences of opinions, but have to be watchful to stop flamers (people that start arguments for no purpose other than to gain attention) and inappropriate material (not just off-topic but truly inappropriate for that audience).
Their recommendations center around marketing your site, making regular updates and involving the audience:
- Ask people to take action by subscribing, creating links, etc.
- After writing entries, invite people to comment. Market your site via word of mouth and other media. Write articles, give lectures/presentations, and get people to go to your site.
- Add other media like images and video to make the space more interesting.
- Keep it current.
- Match the look and feel to that of your brand.
- Reach out to other companies and people. Make alliances to spread your word.
- Add your URL to all your collateral (web sites, business cards, email signature, etc.)
Bottom line, it is a product you are creating around yourself or your company. Choose a social site that fits your target, your brand, and that you can make a commitment. Then market it. If you are a job seeker, do the same thing. Treat yourself like a product and market it.