Social media communication uncovering design intricacies

2010-11-22T20:19:00.001+05:30

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Social media communication uncovering design intricacies

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Social Media for Business

2010-11-21T02:02:00.002+05:30

Social Media for Business

Fortune 500 focusing more on Twitter

2010-11-12T18:39:00.001+05:30

A recent yearly repost released by the Center for Marketing Research at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth “The Fortune 500 and Social Media” says that America’s biggest corporations have dramatically increased their participation in twitter (~approximately two times).

Today, three out of five Fortune 500 companies in US have an active Twitter account, compared to 1/3 in year 2009. This number is even more than the numbers that have an active Facebook account, which is about 56%.

Today, 60% of Fortune 500 is micro blogging

More than a third of the companies with Twitter accounts frequently responded to consumers with @ replies or retweets within a short period of time, making a solid effort to engage the 26 million US adults use Twitter at least monthly.

Although the taken as a whole usage of Twitter by the Fortune 500 increased, so did its reach all through the ranks of the list. Last year, practically 40% of those companies with an account were in the top 100. But, by 2010, that had dropped to 25%, & companies in the middle of the pack made up a bigger share of Twitter users.

The repost also says that; the industry’s most powerfully represented among Fortune 500 Twitter accounts were specialty retail (23 companies); drug, food, and CPG (22); and insurance (20). And these were also the top three industries to have an active Facebook account.

“America’s economy and to a large extent the world economy is driven by these large & leading companies,” said the report. “Their eagerness to network more transparently via these new technologies with their stakeholders is apparent. It will be very fascinating to observe as they get bigger their embracing of social media tools and bond with their constituents in considerably new ways.”

7 Ways to Get More Value From Your e-Newsletter

2010-11-11T22:39:00.000+05:30

Email marketing is one of the most popular and effective ways for businesses to share their content and connect with customers. Besides being relatively easy, eNewsletters provide good analytics along with a low-cost way to help you manage customer engagement. Your subscriber list is a goldmine for your business – the bigger the list, the more potential to achieve desired results.

What’s more, marketers rate eNewsletters as one of the more effective content marketing tactics.

Over 61% of the respondents to the B2B Content Marketing: 2010 Benchmarks, Budgets and Trends report use eNewsletters and rate them as one of the most effective ways to distribute content. Only in-person events have a significant advantage over eNewsletters on the effectiveness front.

What can you do to encourage more people to subscribe to your eNewsletter?

Dedicate a page of your website to your newsletter

Something I don’t see often but I think is very effective is creating a dedicated page for your newsletter. Displaying an example is a great way to entice people to subscribe.

Recently, I encountered an excellent example where the design of a company newsletter is used to encourage people to subscribe. Master Photographer Geoff Fisher of Fisher Photography kicked off a new eNewsletter campaign as part of a complete re-branding exercise. His web designer, Ryan Briggs, included a sneak-peak of the customized newsletter he developed for Geoff.

By conveniently providing a sign-up form next to the body of the preview, visitors to Geoff’s website can easily add their name to his list. This technique is not limited to eNewsletters; a print newsletter can be easily dissected for success, as well.

Invest in custom design

It’s extremely easy to fire off a newsletter using a template or a wizard from your email marketing software, and that’s why everyone does it. However, consider investing in a professional design. Your content will stand out and lend a hand to your brand at the same time.

As you can see from the mock-up of the Fisher Photography newsletter above, the design has been developed specifically to support Fisher’s business. The dedicated website page also displays a description of each section. The benefits to this technique include:

Transparency – The visitor knows exactly what content to expect
Visual appeal – A custom design supports your brand and shows quality
Commitment – Posting your design demonstrates an intent to produce regular content
Excitement – An attractive teaser provokes people to want the real thing

Archive your past newsletters on your website

Not only is an archive of past newsletters an excellent way to extend the life of your content, but it also works wonders on your SEO. Visitors to your website immediately understand your commitment to publishing good content when they can see a body of work all in one place.

Promote your newsletter like crazy

Of course, once you have your eNewsletter landing page set up, you want to start driving lots of traffic there. Here are some ideas.

Put your subscription form on your home page

It might seem obvious, but it’s surprising how many people bury their form deep in their website or don’t have it on their website at all. And, remember to point people to your landing page to learn more.

Put a subscription form on your social media profiles

Do your Facebook fans know you have a newsletter? Why not let them sign up right on your page?

Add a link to your subscription form at the end of every blog post

If you’ve got a reader who made it all the way to the end of your post, it’s probably because they found value in what you’ve had to say. Chances are they’re going to want more of the same. Why not convert them immediately?

Add a sharing widget on your eNewsletters

If you want people to promote your newsletter for you, make it easy on them by including a sharing widget. Give people the option of distributing it on any channel they want and there’s no telling where your content may end up.

Getting your newsletter into as many hands as possible doesn’t have to be a challenge. Creating opportunities to extend the life of your newsletter and encourage new readers is easier than you may have guessed. Don’t think of your newsletter as a static document with a limited shelf-life. A collective body of well-constructed, beautifully designed and strategically managed newsletters are an asset to your business. Consider the different channels you use to promote your business and ensure your newsletter is referenced in every place. Before long, you’ll be striking gold.

How do you squeeze more value out of your newsletter?

Know how to launch an email campaign:

E MARKETING PRACTICE

Social media communication uncovering design intricacies

Social Media for Business

Fortune 500 focusing more on Twitter

7 Ways to Get More Value From Your e-Newsletter