Facebook and Twitter are synonymous with social media in today’s Internet landscape, however….

It’s important for every business owner to go beyond Facebook and Twitter and explore the other options available for your business marketing. Your customers are hanging out at other locations besides these two social media powerhouses. Other social media should not be ignored as a potential market for your customer and clients. Here are six social media websites you should know about, or give another look at, and include in your online business strategy.

1. LinkedIn is a successful business platform for professionals to meet, interact, engage and network with other people in their industry. With the launch of LinkedIn Company Pages, it’s a way to turn the focus onto your business, services, and products instead of as you, the person. With the ability to add a video for each of your services or products, LinkedIn Company Pages is ahead of the game with this feature. One other way you can look at LinkedIn is that it provides hiring or job classified services. You can also ask questions of your business peers in their LinkedIn Answers pages. LinkedIn has grown into a major player in the social media industry.

2. Google Plus is Google’s leap in on the current Facebook phenomenon. Google Plus allows you to establish connections with your friends, share links, upload photos and view videos. Google Plus allows you to establish circles or groups of friends which you can target your updates to those specific people. One of the biggest benefits for a business to have a presence on Google+ is that what you share and what you post shows up readily at the top of the search results pages (SERPS) more often than other social sites. At least that’s how it is right now. The more people you are connected with on Google+, the more your content displays to them when they are searching for something related. It’s quite interesting.

3. Foursquare is a social media platform focused on your location. Foursquare wants to know where you are and businesses will give you discounts if you tell them. Foursquare is similar to the Facebook Places service where you check into businesses by way of your mobile phone. This works as a marketing strategy for the business and they reward you for your participation with discounts, coupons and sales. A few ways a business can utilize Foursquare is to promote company events, to build your brand, to collect information on your target market, and to give a nod to your clients.

4. Pinterest brings social bookmarking into a new era. It is a social bookmarking platform for organizing and sharing the things you love. It is exceptionally easy to use. Their attraction element is an online, virtual social pin board (or corkboard) where you upload links to the things you love. It generates a “board” in an attractive and organized fashion for you to consume and to share. This is shared with your network on Pinterest and generates traffic to those websites you pin. Pinterest integrates with Facebook so you can share with your Facebook friends the things you love. The idea is that you give viewers an experience of value apart from your product or services. To get the most out of Pinterest, have a goal in mind. Statistics are showing that the average time spent on Pinterest per user is 72 minutes, almost twice that of Facebook. While it’s still in its infancy, only time will tell how powerful this tool might become for your business. It has the potential to be a great lead generator; however it’s more about letting people into your world and building credibility, and not so much about overtly selling yourself.

5. Tumblr is a clean and easy to use blogging platform for sharing and creating attractive media. Tumblr is a great place to post pictures, quotes, media, videos, text and links to share with the world. Tumblr provides the free domain and templates to get you started blogging with the world. The interesting feature of Tumblr is the redistribution of content through “reblogging”, as users follow other Tumblr blogs that appear in their dashboard. If you’re looking to set up a blog quickly, the simplicity of Tumblr may be just what you need.

6. Yelp is a social media platform in that it allows you to share your experiences about the businesses listed in their directories. Yelp also provides a check-in function similar to Foursquare. Businesses should be aware that Yelp can have a huge impact on your business. Listing your business and garnering positive reviews shows up in the search engines for your keywords and can gain traffic to your website. Yelp is all about word-of-mouth marketing, plus it is also a great citation site for local businesses looking to garner some good ole’ local SEO juice.

So, there you have it! Six places to keep your eye on and explore further.

Article by Andrea Kalli

Take a stroll over to my Facebook Page and become part of my community. I invite you to become a fan and participate in the conversation.
Certified Internet and Social Marketing Assistant

Not another social network heard from. Please, please don’t make me!

Google Plus will boost your SEO

As much as we may hate to admit it; as much as we may hate to add to the list of things we need to do to improve SEO; it’s time to accept the fact that, for good or ill, Google+ plus is here, and is already having an effect on search results. Did you expect less from Google?

Whether you like the way Google is using Google+ or not, you have to take into account the fact that there is a strong link between the new social network and the older search engine giant. All over the net today there are opinions on how and why Google is doing this but, what really matters, is whether or not you can, and are, taking advantage of what is a new opportunity to gain exposure and improve your ranking in the search results.

Just the facts ma’am

As late as December of 2011 it was estimated that Google Plus had about 40 million users. One month later, January 2012, it is estimated that Google+ is over 60 million and rising quickly. Can 100 million users be far behind? As a matter of fact, by the time you read this post they might have already hit that milestone!  While these numbers pale compared to the estimated 800 million Facebook users, it is the inherent link between Google’s search engine and Google+ which has many online marketers excited.

You see, suddenly, with the advent of Google’s own social network, the search engine giant has begun to attach more relevancy to social content. No surprise there, right? What is surprising to some though is just how quickly Google+ content has begun to jump to the top of the search results.

How has this happened? Not surprisingly Google, understanding its own search patterns, has created in Google+ a very search-friendly environment. We’ll delve into the more technical aspects of this at a later time but, suffice to say, if your business has not created a Google+ profile yet, it’s time to do so…NOW.

John Haydon wrote an article about the main difference between Google Plus Pages .vs Google Plus Profiles, where he mentions the similarities of Google Plus Pages and Profiles to Facebook Pages and Profiles, “Pages are for businesses, brands, orgs and public figures; Profiles are for people.“, and he talks about some of the feature differences as well.

I found some really great resources, one of which is my favorite SEO website, SEOmoz. They recently created a very informative and timely video about Google+ and SEO. I’m including a link to it below for your convenience.

Ten great tips and techniques for using your Google+

• Google Plus Tip #1 – Want more followers on Google+? Take time to complete your profile and make sure it includes plenty of information for interested people to find you.
• Google Plus Tip #2 – Follow people of influence in your niche on Google+. You will appear in their followers lists and may show up as a recommendation to follow from Google+.
• Google Plus Tip #3 – Have you told your email and newsletter subscribers that you’re on Google+? Let them know, so you can connect a bit more closely.
• Google Plus Tip #4 – Want your subscribers to find you on Google+? Invite them to a Hangout with the promise of sharing some great information.
• Google Plus Tip #5 – Did you know that according to Google, +1’s not only influence the search results of those following you, but they can influence general results as well?
• Google Plus Tip #6 – Just like buying links is a bad idea, avoid buying +1’s from places like Fiverr.
• Google Plus Tip #7 – Did you know that you can only add people to the Circles on your business page, but they have to add you to theirs first?
• Google Plus Tip #8 – You can format your Google+ updates by using the following: * on each side of a word creates bolded text;  _ on either side creates italicized text; and – on either side create strike-through text.
• Google Plus Tip #9 – Share your latest YouTube video by creating a Google+ Hangout to start a discussion.
• Google Plus Tip #10 – How to tag someone in your Google+ post that you have in your Google+ circles : all you have to do is type the plus symbol (+) and then start typing the name of the person. Immediately, an autofill box will show with a list of possible names you might be looking for.

I’ll be bringing you more Google+ Tips in the next article.

In addition to the great links within this article I’ve also gathered some of the latest news for you, if you want to dive into more details:

• Google Plus will build your search traffic
• Google Plus Data
• Google Plus Tips: 15 ways to increase Google Plus followers
• How to start using Google+ for Your Business Before it’s Too Late
• Access Google Plus from Smartphones

Until next time!

Andrea

Article by Andrea Kalli

Take a stroll over to my Facebook Page and become part of my community. I invite you to become a fan and participate in the conversation.
Certified Internet and Social Marketing Assistant

However, the question must be asked, “What are social videos and why are they so popular?” Well, stated simply, using social videos is the attempt to attract attention to your product or service organically. That is to say, free.

Social Video Marketing

By generating interest, along with “shares” of your video over the social network, you can create interest in your business, product, or service without incurring the usual advertising costs. Plus, your social video marketing efforts are directed to a highly targeted, motivated audience of people who enjoy sharing new and different information with their friends. What more could an advertiser ask for?

Social Videos and an Emotional Response

But why call them “social” videos? Because in this case, your videos are directed specifically at the social network, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and others; the places where your viewers are most likely to share, and where “going viral” is most possible.

Video is by far the most effective medium for generating an emotional response from your audience, the very response you seek in advertising. The social network is the most effective medium for sharing emotional responses. By blending the two, social videos and the social network, you give yourself the greatest chance of reaching a vast, yet targeted audience.

Video is inherently social

 The social network enhances this because of the compulsion of its users to share the things which generate an emotional response in them. They will:

• Share Emotions – The things which appeal to them most powerfully are the things they will share.
• Share Identity – The things with which they identify, and which help to identify them, are the things they will share.
• Share Self Expression – The things which help them to express emotions they cannot express themselves are the things they will share.
• Share Information – Information which they find valuable are the things they will share.
• Share Reciprocity – When sharing, they will expect others to share back to them.

Sharing Social Videos

• Users are more engaged with friend-endorsed content; and people heavily share videos they find interesting with friends.
• Video engagement drives purchase intent. People who watch a video are more likely to purchase what is being offered than something without any video.
• Word-of-mouth: Over 81% of users search internet word-of-mouth when making purchasing decisions; and video reviews are becoming more prevalent in being found in search engine results, along with ease-of-sharing.
• Growing views: The Internet measurement firm Visible Measures reported social video ad campaigns generated more than 2.7 billion views in 2010, up from 820 million in 2009.
• Increased investment: “YouTube has a sponsored videos marketing that’s doing hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue,” says Dan (Greenberg of Sharethrough). “We now have agencies that work in our space that are created specifically for branded content; i.e., they simply create the content, and not to do the media buying or distribution technology. If you count the creative agencies and ad agencies and publishers who are dedicated to this space, I’d say it’s already a billion-dollar market and growing.”

(Source: The Rise of Social Video Advertising & Why You Should Care http://www.reelseo.com/social-video-advertising/#ixzz1gYJaaF4J ©2008-2011 ReelSEO.com Online Video Guide)

Social Videos and Branding

Once your video has been shared by a growing audience, you will begin to gain an identity, a brand. You will begin to become known as “That guy who…,” or “The company that…,” or “The woman who did…,” the thing that everyone is sharing, and talking about. You definitely want to be that guy, that company, or that woman – and social videos will help you accomplish this.

Use social videos consistently – and consistently include your identity, your brand, in every piece of content you produce, whether video, audio, imagery, or text. The payoff here is that soon it will be your brand which is being shared, not just your content. That is the Holy Grail of marketing and advertising. Wouldn’t you like to become the next “Kleenex,” which is the word everyone uses for facial tissue, despite the actual brand they’re using? Sure you would.

To accomplish this you must:

• Create Content, not advertisements.
• Generate Views, not impressions.
• Seek Shares, not clicks-throughs.

Change your thinking from the traditional advertising model, and the rest will take care of itself.

Your goal with social videos

Your goal with the use of social videos is to get consumers to embrace your video content as part of their social lives, and to share it with others on the social network. By understanding the need to share whatever content they find important, you can exploit this need to your advantage in your next social video marketing campaign. After all, if all of those social networkers out there are going to share information anyway, why shouldn’t it be yours?

Article by Andrea Kalli

Take a stroll over to my Facebook Page and become part of my community. I invite you to become a fan and participate in the conversation.
Certified Internet and Social Marketing Assistant

Don’t waste that new budget on the same old, same old. It’s time to get creative; it’s time to get busy; it’s time to spend like a college freshman with an “emergencies only” credit card in hand for the first time. All joking aside, it really is time to move your online business forward and reap the rewards you’ve been hoping for and working toward.

Let me help you…

• Improve traffic to your site
• Build your brand identity
• Increase your online presence
• Take the load off your shoulders
• Grow your online business

Keyword Research Support

The most important task of all that you do to improve your website and build an online presence, keyword research is the most important, yet tends to be the most neglected. The keywords you use are how people find you, not to mention the search engines, of course.

Even if you began your online business with a well-researched, comprehensive list of quality keywords, you should upgrade them at least once a year, perhaps more often. The search terms people use to find you can easily change over time, meaning that your keywords may become obsolete or less effective. By refreshing your keyword list yearly, you will stay on top of the changes to the searches you need.

WordPress Websites Support

If you don’t have your site on WordPress, I have only one question for you. Why not? WordPress is the most popular hosting platform in the world for a reason. Actually, you should consider WordPress websites for a few reasons…

• WordPress is SEO-friendly, by structure and design it is especially Google-friendly.
• WordPress is easy to use, with intuitive dashboards and easy posting.
• WordPress has wonderful backup, with thousands of developers worldwide creating plugins and support programs.
• WordPress is easy to customize, making your site unique.
• WordPress is easy to maintain, so easy in fact, you can do it yourself once I show you how.
• WordPress can easily be your e-commerce platform. With both free and premium plugins and integration with popular shopping cart systems, you will be able to FINALLY monetize your website.

Building WordPress websites for online business, or moving an old site to WordPress, is what I do. I’m very good at it, because I am completely committed to helping you improve your online presence, enhance your identity, and build your brand.

The Social Network – an Internet Marketing staple

A major element in the current Internet Marketing campaign, social media marketing continues to hold an extremely strong position. Working side-by-side with your favorites, such as email and autoresponder campaigns, affiliate programs, and content distribution to content sharing sites, your social media marketing campaign should be welcomed into the fold with open arms.

Again, why are you not using the social network for marketing your business? Sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube are where the people are. Put simply, they put butts in the seats for you. They are a way to connect and engage with your audience like no other place online. If you’re not a part of the social network, you need to be – today.

Product Launch Support

What a great time of year to launch a new product. Optimism runs rampant at this time of year, with nearly everyone you meet believing good things are ahead. This positive energy makes the beginning of the year the perfect time to introduce your new product.

My product launch team and I will handle all the details and manage your product launch with diligence and efficiency. We’ll relieve the stress you feel from trying to do-it-all yourself, freeing you to handle the Big Stuff while we take care of the details.

Videos for Marketing

Those New Plans for the New Year will be much less effective without the use of video for marketing. Research shows that video is 66% more effective than text when promoting your products or services. If you’re not on the video bandwagon yet, you need to be. I have dedicated an entirely separate website to help you introduce video into your new marketing efforts with style AND to fit within your tight budget.

Videos and Audios for your Products

Let’s not forget that one of the best ways to expand your income and revenue is to take your fabulous knowledge and turn it into sell-able products. Digital downloads are very easy to set up for your business and are a great way to spread the brilliance that is YOU!

Go ahead; let your own optimism and positive energy take you to a New Place this New Year. Let me, Andrea Kalli, help you and guide you into a more prosperous and profitable New Year for you – and your online business.

Article by Andrea Kalli

Take a stroll over to my Facebook Page and become part of my community. I invite you to become a fan and participate in the conversation.
Certified Internet and Social Marketing Assistant

The Value of Creating Additional Quality Content on Your Website

While you may think that it is best to keep your website content concise and focused on your product and service offerings, there are a number of reasons why you should develop and publish additional content. By publishing additional high-quality content on your website, you have a better chance of engaging your visitors. Not only will they stay on your site for longer periods of time but also be more likely to find something to share on their own online assets. Ultimately, that provides you with a user-generated link building campaign.

The advantages of encouraging the development of an informal user-generated link building campaign through the availability of additional content is limitless but the most significant benefits include:

1) Minimize Link Building Work

By providing more relevant and engaging content for visitors to share, you need not work so hard at your own link building campaign. You can expect inbound links to come at a steady pace as you publish more articles and gain more visitors.

2) Gain Personal Endorsements

When your visitors share your content to others, you essentially gain personal endorsements. If you promote your own site, products, or services through a personal link building campaign and other tactics, you have to first overcome the additional task of gaining your audience’s trust. When your own visitors share your content, it can be assumed that their audiences already trust them and are, therefore, more likely to listen.

3) Access More Online Networks and Communities

By publishing tons of engaging content that your visitors can share, you have more opportunities to be promoted in and gain inbound links from sites, blogs, social networks, and various online communities that you otherwise won’t have access to. It will also allow you to limit the number of online accounts you have to maintain just to generate inbound links yourself.

Developing a content network within your site is not just for the purpose of demonstrating your expertise within your niche. Looking at the bigger picture, it provides assets for a powerful link building campaign that will lead to effortless web traffic generation. Furthermore, the amount of content as well as the number of web pages, backlinks, and visitors you gain because of the additional content on your site will ultimately enhance your SEO campaign and, consequently, lead to even more targeted traffic.

Article by Andrea Kalli

Take a stroll over to my Facebook Page and become part of my community. I invite you to become a fan and participate in the conversation.
Certified Internet and Social Marketing Assistant