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Posted By: Stevens & Tate Category: Social Media
20 Aug 2010Beginning on Wednesday, August 18th, Facebook made it possible for you to immediately tell people about your favorite spots with Facebook Places. You can share where you are and the friends you are with in real time from your mobile device.
Ever gone to a show, only to find out afterward that your friends were there too? With Places, you can discover moments when you and your friends are at the same place at the same time.
You have the option to share your location by “checking in” to that place and letting friends know where you are. You can easily see if any of your friends have also chosen to check in nearby.
To get started, you’ll need the most recent version of the Facebook application for iPhone. You also can access Places from touch.facebook.com if your mobile browser supports HTML 5 and geolocation.
Go to Places on the iPhone application or touch.facebook.com site and then tap the “Check In” button. You’ll see a list of places near you. Choose the place that matches where you are. If it’s not on the list, search for it or add it. After checking in, your check-in will create a story in your friends’ News Feeds and show up in the Recent Activity section on the page for that place.
When you check in, you can also tag friends who are with you, just as you can tag a friend in a status update or photo. You can post an update along with your check-in to tell people more about what you are doing.
In the “People Here Now” section, you can see others who are checked in with you at that place. This section is visible for a limited amount of time and only to people who are checked in there. That way you can meet other people who might share your interests. If you prefer not to appear in this section, you can control whether you show up by unchecking the “Include me in ‘People Here Now’ after I check in” privacy control.
The next time you head off on vacation or go to a show, check in with Places to find out which friends are there. See who is close by and read the comments from other friends who’ve been there before.
Places is only available in the United States right now. But we expect to make it available to more countries and on additional mobile platforms soon.
To read more about Facebook Places, click here.
Posted By: Stevens & Tate Category: Social Media
6 Aug 2010Active Twitter users are three times more likely to impact a brand’s online reputation via Tweets, blog posts, articles and product reviews than the average consumer, according to a new survey by Exact Target.
“Consumers active on Twitter are clearly the most influential online,” said Morgan Stewart, principal, ExactTarget’s research and education group.
“What happens on Twitter doesn’t stay on Twitter. While the number of active Twitter users is less than Facebook or email, the concentration of highly engaged and influential content creators is unrivaled-it’s become the gathering place for content creators whose influence spills over into every other corner of the Internet.”
Twitter users are the most influential online consumers – 72 percent publish blog posts at least monthly, 70 percent comment on blogs, 61 percent write at least one product review monthly and 61 percent comment on news sites.
Daily Twitter users are 6 times more likely to publish articles, five times more likely to post blogs, seven times more likely to post to Wikis and three times more likely to post product reviews at least monthly compared to non-Twitter users.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of online consumers read Twitter updates at least monthly and 11 percent read Twitter updates but do not have an account.
To read this article in its entirety, click here.
Posted By: Stevens & Tate Category: Social Media
13 Jul 2010A recent article published on WebProNews is claiming that new research from Pew Internet and Elon University is showing that Millennials are planning on making online sharing on social media sites a lifelong habit.
In an online survey of 895 technology stakeholders and critics, 67 percent agreed with the following statement:
“By 2020, members of Generation Y (today’s “digital natives”) will continue to be ambient broadcasters who disclose a great deal of personal information in order to stay connected and take advantage of social, economic, and political opportunities. Even as they mature, have families, and take on more significant responsibilities, their enthusiasm for widespread information sharing will carry forward.”
Some 29 percent agreed with the opposite statement:
“By 2020, members of Generation Y (today’s “digital natives”) will have “grown out” of much of their use of social networks, multiplayer online games and other time-consuming, transparency-engendering online tools. As they age and find new interests and commitments, their enthusiasm for widespread information sharing will abate.”
Most of the individuals surveyed believed the sharing of personal information online has many social benefits as people open up to others in order to build friendships, form and find communities, seek help, and build their reputations. They said Millennials have already seen the benefits and will not reduce their use of these social tools over the next decade as they take on more responsibilities while growing older.
To read this article in its entirety, click here.
Posted By: Stevens & Tate Category: Social Media
7 Jul 2010Finding topics to blog about can be a chore, but Site-Reference has put together a list of 50 topics to blog about on your business blog.
Not every topic below will apply to your specific situation or business, but you can keep the following list close to your computer so you’ll have an easy stream of ideas when it’s time to compose a new blog entry.
50 Topic Ideas for a Business Blog
To read this article in its entirety, click here.
Posted By: Stevens & Tate Category: Uncategorized
29 Jun 2010A study conducted by e-mail marketing provider GetResponse indicates that e-mail messages that include a social sharing option generated 30% higher click-through-rates (CTR) than e-mails without a social sharing option. Additionally, messages with three or more sharing options generated a 55% higher CTR. The study analyzed social media integration and sharing using Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Digg in almost 500 million e-mails sent by over 19,000 GetResponse customers.
The GetResponse e-mail marketing platform is tailored towards small and medium-sized businesses (SMB). Simon Grabowski, CEO of Implix, for which GetResponse is the flagship product, commented, “The impressive 55 percent CTR increase achieved by adding social sharing options tells us it’s not enough to integrate campaigns with social media networks — the power is in sharing.”
Other findings from the study includes:
This study provide a useful and easy-to-implement tip to SMB marketers. ROI is high, as the added costs to include social network links is a negligible amount of time. Longitudinal study might include a qualitative assessment of the destination to which the responders are linked. In other words, will those companies that provide better experiences on their social sites and streams keep those customers clicking.
To read this article in its entirety, click here.
Posted By: Nicole Wagner Category: Social Media| Stevens & Tate Speaks
8 Jun 2010Most companies believe that by taking part in websites such as Facebook, Twitter and My Space they are “doing social media”. To me, social media begins at home. The first place people look when wanting to interact with a company is their website. True enthusiasts would love to interact throughout your site and help you keep your content updated.
Now I know what you are thinking – everyone fears the backlash. Are you truly that nervous about your brand? Do you not feel like you have a loyal customer base that will be out there speaking well about you more than those speaking badly? In truth, most brands have more ‘champions’ than they do ‘slayers’. And most people who are unhappy about your company will want to tell you first – what better place than on your own website in a controlled environment, versus on someone else’s website where you have less control of the conversation.
Posted By: Stevens & Tate Category: Social Media
8 Jun 2010A recent article by Aliza Sherman was published on WebWorkerDaily that discusses the concept of a Facebook Superfan and how marketers can turn their Superfans into Brand Ambassadors.
A brand’s Superfans are defined as the Facebook fans who not only liked their page but also participated and interacted with others on the page and even came back on a daily or near daily basis.
Sure, you could give them a special gift or recognize them publicly in a status update saying “Thanks,” but is that it? What’s so “social” about that? Isn’t social media giving us far more capabilities? And if someone is that engaged with a brand, what else do they want? Clearly, having this kind of unprecedented contact and communications with a brand fills some unidentified need in individuals who revel in the opportunities that social media tools provide.
Why Do Fans Become Superfans?
First, let’s explore what motivates people to do more than just click “Like” on a brand’s Facebook Page, what drives some of them to become active members of an organically-forming community on that Page.
What we are seeing on Facebook Pages is similar to what has been seen in online communities going all the way back to Usenet Newsgroups: People want to feel part of something larger than themselves. They want to belong. It’s human nature to be drawn to communities, and if one doesn’t already exist, then some people have it in them to start building one themselves.
When we see a person moving from clicking on a Like button to responding to status updates to then commenting on what others are commenting on to visiting a page daily and announcing their arrival, we’re seeing the natural community builders rising to the top. These are the Superfans. Some of them could become even more than that to a brand. Some of them want to be more, but don’t know where to start.
How Do You Convert a Superfan Into a Brand Ambassador?
What needs to be put in place is a process to strategically and respectfully offer opportunities to Superfans to become something bigger: a Brand Ambassador.
The term “Brand Ambassador” has been bandied about in marketing for years. Merriam-Webster defines an ambassador as “an authorized representative or messenger or an unofficial representative.” In this context, the concept of a Brand Ambassador is clear: someone who publicly and positively represents and promotes a brand. Note that this is not about buying someone’s loyalty; this isn’t about paying them to be a Brand Ambassador. Once you pay someone a fee for their “ambassadorship,” what you’re really getting is a paid spokesperson. This is about how to create mutually beneficial and transparent relationships with brand Superfans, to harness their passions and convert them into social media Brand Ambassadors. Here’s how to do this:
1. Identify Superfans.
2. Recognize Superfans publicly.
3. Privately request that Superfans respond to a questionnaire to get a better sense of who they are.
4. Evaluate the responses to identify potential Brand Ambassadors.
5. Approach Superfans privately with a proposal to become a Brand Ambassador.
6. Engage the new Brand Ambassadors to amplify their passions around the brand.
All of the steps above can be infused with whatever meaning you want. The choices you make, however, are critical to the success of your Brand Ambassador program. First and foremost, you have to understand the dynamics of social media, online communities and the meaning of value. You then have to be sensitive and respectful to the individuals with whom you are interacting. Let’s face it: You need them way more than they need you.
To read this article in it’s entirety, click here.
Posted By: Stevens & Tate Category: Social Media
24 May 2010Are you thinking about launching a blog for your business? You are not alone. A recent study by GuideWireGroup has revealed that about 89% of businesses polled use blogs as a way to communicate with their customers. A successful business blog can generate tens of thousands of dollars in revenue each year, with figures for large corporations typically much higher.
Business blogging is becoming a mainstream marketing tool; however, blogging does not always come easily or naturally for many companies. Blogging, like any form of content, is a commitment of time and resources. Not only do you have to know how to write, you will need to maintain your blogs with fresh, original and insightful content on a regular basis.
Planning out your blogging strategy first is a wise move because it gives your blog a greater chance for success. Beth Hrusch, a Senior Editor at Interact Media, offers these additional tips for launching your business blog:
Launching your business blog is, like any project, all about preparation. If you do your homework and lay a solid foundation, your blog will produce results.
Posted By: Stevens & Tate Category: Social Media
20 May 2010When it comes to Social Media, no one “gets it” quite like Twitter. According to Econsultancy, as of January 2010, Twitter has 75 million user accounts. Twitter makes it easy for businesses and entrepreneurs to stay in touch with those who choose to follow them, and stay updated on new products, services, special offers, industry news and more. It’s a win-win for both the Tweeter and their followers.
When it comes to Twitter, there is a right way and a wrong way to use the platform. Your messages (or Tweets) must be kept short – under 140 characters – and they need to be helpful or informative. Don’t Tweet about what you ate for breakfast or the fact that you just brushed your teeth; people will begin to unfollow you.
Merle, author of the site MerlesWorld.com, has put together a list of the top 10 tips for Twitter Users.
Social Media is all about participating and listening to what others have to say. It’s all about creating and sharing information and becoming part of the community. If you approach Twitter in this fashion, you’ll not only have a lot more fun, but your followers will like and respect you – and if that doesn’t strengthen your brand, nothing will.
Posted By: Stevens & Tate Category: Hotels Resorts & Travel| Social Media
7 May 2010Travel Spike recently published a few statistics regarding Facebook, Twitter and online marketing for the travel and tourism industry.
Facebook Facts:
The average Facebook user spends 55 minutes a day and becomes a “fan” of 4 Facebook pages a day.
People are 60% more likely to recommend your Travel Brand or Destination to their friends if they follow you on Facebook.
Consumers are 51% more likely to buy from a brand they follow on Facebook.
Twitter Facts:
Consumers are 67% more likely to buy from brands they follow on Twitter.
Consumers are also 79% more likely to recommend a company they follow on Twitter to their friends.
66% of Twitter users are over the age of 35.
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