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Social Media Tools Small Businesses Should Be Using

By
Marty McGee
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1

Social media is everywhere. It’s in our homes, places of worship, schools and, of course, our businesses. Everywhere you look, people are using social media and are talking about it. And it seems that every week a new type of social site pops up.

And as the number of social networking sites grows, so does the number of services that are created to measure, track and monitor those services. What’s a marketing professional to do?

To help you cut through the clutter, here are the 10 must-use social media tools that can not only help you make sense of your social media efforts but make them more effective.

EditFlow

1. EditFlow

EditFlow is a plugin from open source content management system WordPress that allows you to manage your editorial team seamlessly.

With it, you can get a snapshot of your month-to-month content with the calendar feature. It also offers improved content statusbeyond WordPress’ default draft and pending review. And user groups can help you keep your team of writers organized by department or function.

Who should use it and why: Any business owner who manages a multi-author website should give EditFlow a look. This tool can keep all of the things that are important to a multi-author blog in one spot so management is easy, clean and documented.

TweetReach

2. TweetReach

This tool allows you to see how far your tweets travel. For example, with TweetReach I can search my blog and come up with these results. It breaks down how many people your messages reach and how many tweets it took to reach them. For instance, TweetReach can tell you how many times your tweets have been shared by retweets, replies and other standard tweets.

Who should use it and why: From a social media manager to a small-business owner, basically anybody who is interested in finding out how effective his or her tweets are based upon the number of people they touch should consider using TweetReach. It can also useful from a metric standpoint in terms of justifying the results of your social media campaigns with senior management or partners.

ArgyleSocial

3. ArgyleSocial

This Durham, N.C.-based startup is a social media platform that aims to help marketers connect the business dots with the social media dots. ArgyleSocial offers a single dashboard to monitor Facebook and Twitter that allows you to delegate tasks to your team. It also offers easy reporting on the ROI of your social media efforts.

If you’d like to be an affiliate, you can use ArgyleSocial’s white label brand and resell the social media platform to your clients. All of your accounts can be wrapped up into one bill and sent to you to distribute or absorb as an included service.

Who should use it and why: From the social media manager to the one-person business that needs to prove to management, clients or themselves that their social media campaign is paying off.

HootSuite for iPad

4. HootSuite for iPad

HootSuite users should be happy with this iPad application. It includes a stationary column in the sidebar that keeps track of all streams being tracked.

Among the other things HootSuite says you can do with this iPad app include checking in using a Foursquare account, scheduling messages to send at a later time, examine click-through statistics, add geo-location coordinates to messages and shorten URLs with a built-in Ow.ly tool.

Who should use it and why: HootSuite for iPad is for heavy iPad users who want to manage their social media content and engagement.

TweetLevel

5. TweetLevel

You might be thinking you don’t need another Tweet metric tool, but TweetLevel, allows you to specifically search for hashtags, which can lead you to insights on who to follow based upon conversation versus person.

Once you’ve found someone you’d like to follow, you can use TweetLevel to help measure his or her social influence. You can also evaluate the buzz around a certain topic to determine if it’s a trend worth paying attention to. Then take a peek at related phrases around your topic to gauge the true scope of the trending idea.

Who should use it and why: Public relations managers and social media marketing professionals who want to analyze a campaign should give TweetLevel a try. This tool can help you identify the Twitter conversation, where it’s going wrong and how to correct that mistake.

ReFollow

6. ReFollow

When it comes to Twitter, numbers might not be as important as the people you follow and who follows you. ReFollow is an application that allows you to lock in those followers that you’ve connected with and make sure they continue to follow you.

Other features include filtering a search on Twitter to uncover insights, such as what you have in common with certain followers. This can lead you to connecting with someone who maybe you’re Twitter conversation has been close to zero, but with a simple direct message to that person you can make a connection and build a business relationship.

Who should use it and why: This can be the perfect tool for the person who wants to grow a list of highly-qualified, like-minded people. Consider using ReFollow if your concern is quality over quantity, which it should be.

TwitterSearch

7. TwitterSearch

You’ve probably heard of TwitterSearch but, more than likely, you aren’t using it correctly.

New media expert Thomas Baekdal offers a number of little-known tips for using TwitterSearch. For instance, to see what people are saying about your competitors, search with to:competitor or from:competitor. Replace “Competitor” with that company’s Twitter handle.

To uncover top trending topics search that topic plus –rt filter:links. For example, “digital marketing-rt filter:links”. That code will remove all of the retweets from the search.

Who should use it and why: Anyone who wants to use and search Twitter more effectively should brush up on his or her TwitterSearch skills. And knowing what’s trending on Twitter can be a useful way to generate ideas for your business blog. When you see trending topics, you can create a blog post with content relevant to that discussion.

Traackr

8. Traackr

One simple way to find and follow people who are influential in your space is to use Traackr. It allows you to identify the “authorities” in your industry who can mean the most to your business or your client’s.

What’s also useful about Traackr is that you can watch how social media leaders are responding and contributing to content you are sharing. An ad agency, for example, can see who it should target to help social media campaigns get off the ground, build its engagement strategies based upon Traackr’s unique intelligence and then see results of those campaigns.

Who should use it and why: Traackr can be a useful tool for either advertising agencies or brands that want to build social media campaigns that improve over time and show how they pay off in the end.

SocMetrics

9. SocMetrics

The Topical Influencer platform by SocMetrics is a web-based tool that allows you to identify influencers, understand who these people are, interact with them and then monitor your campaign.

The “Competitive Influence” feature allows you to specify brands and drill down for detailed influencers. What’s slick about this tool is that you can narrow your search to a long-tail keyword, seeing who is truly influential.

Who should use it and why: Any marketing professional who wants to build an effective social media campaign based upon influencers in a specific industry should give this a look. SocMetrics can help you harness the power of thought leaders, which in turn can help you build your brand and sell more.

Social Scope

10. Social Scope

For BlackBerry users who’ve longed for an app that combines Twitter and Facebook on one screen, such as TweetDeck for your desktop, consider trying Social Scope.

And on that same screen you’ll see a thumbnail image if someone shares something from TwitPic. It also has a built in retweeting feature, hash tag search and will also let you see the entire URL to know where a truncated URL is pointing.

Who should use it and why: Anyone who owns a BlackBerry and has a Facebook and Twitter account is a prime target for this app. It’s probably the closest you can get to a desktop-type app on a BlackBerry.

Article origination: http://m.entrepreneur.com/article/222837

By Neil Patel|February 21, 2012

Editor’s note: A version of this article previously appeared at KISSmetrics.com.

Duties of a Social Media Manager

By
Marty McGee
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0

[h3] 1. Set Up a Facebook Account and Business Page [/h3]

One great thing about using Facebook that your clients will love is that it won’t cost them anything. At the same time, their business will get a ton of exposure because of the millions of Facebook users. One of the best ways to set up the Facebook page for a small business is to see what competitors within that niche are doing, and try to top it. As a company’s Social Media Manger, you’ll want to be very aware of the competition. When you set up their page, be sure to also choose a really good company name, which will become part of their Facebook URL.

Check out what other businesses within the same niche are putting on their pages. Notice how many “likes” they have, what kind of images they use and what announcements they’re making. Glean as much as you can and find ways to use some of the ideas that you find, but don’t copy. Having a handle on the competition is one of the best ways to get yourself or the company you’re working with that ‘edge’ to get in the game.

[h3] 2. Twitter and Real Business Networking go together [/h3]

If you need a place to consistently find information that’s trending in your niche, Twitter is the place to go. It’s one place where you can connect with people all over the world. This means that in very little time, you’re able to connect with plenty of people that the company you represent can eventually market to.

To be a good Social Media Manager, you’ll want to handle the company’s Twitter page with care. Tweet daily and make sure you’re staying on topic with what the company represents. When you find competitors that are tweeting, engage and interact. Give the company a little added spice by finding out about some of the things happening in their city and tweet about them from time to time. People like to see business that engage with reality and “what’s happening now” and in the long run, this will give company greater visibility.

There are many software programs that will help you find the right people to interact with. Do a little research to find the right groups and tweet away…

[h3] 3. LinkedIn… Maintaining a LinkedIn network is important! [/h3]

LinkedIn is a great place for finding professions to connect your company with… and again… they’re all over the world.

Look for groups and individuals that you’d like to connect your company with. Consider the products and services that they offer and find the people who could appreciate them. Their current customers can also get in the game by recommending their friends to the company page.

And of course… last but not least…

[h3] 4. Build Your Company Blog — Try WordPress! [/h3]

I know you didn’t think you’d get away without me making this all-important recommendation. The best way to keep your company connected with the right customers is creating a blog. This is a must!

As a good social media manager, you’ll include a blog with the best domain name possible, and begin building a “brand” around the company you’re managing. Again, look for other blogs that are relevant to your company’s niche. Make comments on their blog posts and be sure to include the url to your company’s blog. You can also use the company’s logo as their gravatar across the board. Work on the branding so that their followers will begin to immediately recognize who they are.

Where do I put Google Analytics tracking code?

By
Marty McGee
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0

A common question that I’m asked by clients is…

Where do I put the Google Analytics JavaScript tracking code snippet in my web page?

Here’s my answer:

Your Google Analytics JavaScript code snippet should go at the bottom of the html document, directly above the ending </body> tag.  If possible, it’s always good to have your JavaScript code at the bottom, after all other visible html has been loaded. It doesn’t matter if you’re using PHP or ASP.NET or ColdFusion or Ruby on Rails, the GA code is JavaScript.  It just drops in like so…

<script type=”text/javascript”>
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push([‘_setAccount’, ‘UA-30555133-1’]);
_gaq.push([‘_trackPageview’]);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement(‘script’); ga.type = ‘text/javascript’; ga.async = true;
ga.src = (‘https:’ == document.location.protocol ? ‘https://ssl’ : ‘http://www’) + ‘.google-analytics.com/ga.js’;
var s = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script>
</body>
</html>

Effective Communication

By
Peggy McGee
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0

A great article on eHow.com.  I thought about writing a guide myself but Ryn said it succinctly.  Check it out.

About Effective Written Communication Skills

by Ryn Gargulinski, eHow Contributor

The world has gone high-tech and people communicate through a number of media. Even though the devices used may be top of the line, not everyone’s written communication skills match up. A number of aspects need to be kept in mind when you send out written correspondence:

  • Written correspondence runs the gamut from a simple email to an applicant’s cover letter used to apply for a job. It also includes press releases, newsletters, news stories, columns, commentary, photo captions and a whole lot more. Effective written communication skills start with using the proper format for the type of correspondence you want to send. For instance, a cover letter should be set up like a business letter, containing the elements found therein, such as date, return address and a body of the letter offset by the salutation and closing.

Clarity

  • The purpose of your communication should be clear from the beginning. “I am writing to inform you of your raise. You will be making $15,000 more every year,” is an effective opening. This one is not: “Our company has a tremendous increase in revenue. We have amassed more than $53 billion in sales in the past month alone. We have added 460,000 new clients and….” Why are you telling me this? Cut to the chase.

Length

  • Think Hemingway, not Faulkner, when it comes to sending out effective communications. Ernest Hemingway was known for his short sentences and very short stories. William Faulkner, on the other hand, would go on and on, often including myriad thoughts in a single sentence and, even if the grammar and spelling were impeccable, it would only serve to make the reader work very hard to get to the point (kind of like the sentence you just read). Keep everything as concise as possible.

Grammar

  • There is no excuse for sending communications that contain spelling errors and poor grammar. Even if you use the most eloquent writing and poetic turns of phrases, you are going to give the impression that you are a dolt. Always have someone proofread your work, if possible, before sending it out. She could catch obvious mistakes you may be missing or do not even know are mistakes.

Tone

  • The tone of the correspondence also goes a long way in making it effective. It’s imperative to match the tone to the audience. Cover letters for job openings, corporate communications and even e-mails to your boss should be wholly professional. “Hey, Dude, Would you like to hire me?” just won’t cut it for such situations. Likewise, your friends will think you’re nuts if you start a note with: “Dearest John P. DoeIII, How art thou?”

Read more: About Effective Written Communication Skills | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_4829030_effective-written-communication-skills.html#ixzz1r6snntrH

Creating A Design Persona For Your Website

By
Peggy McGee
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0

Check out this excerpt from the article “Personality by Design” by Aarron Walters.

Creating a Design Persona for Your Website

If your website were a person, who would it be? Is it serious, buttoned up, all business, yet trustworthy and capable? Is it a wise-cracking buddy that makes even mundane tasks fun?

Following a structure similar to a user persona, you can flesh out your design’s personality by creating a design persona. Personality can manifest itself in an interface through visual design, copy, and interactions. A design persona describes how to channel personality in each of these areas and helps the web team to construct a unified and consistent result. The goal is to construct a personality portrait every bit as clear as those Justin Long and John Hodgman convey in the “Get a Mac” ads.

Before we take a look at a real design persona I created for MailChimp, let‘s examine the components of the document. Here’s what you‘ll include in your design persona:

Brand name: The name of your company or service.

Overview: A short overview of your brand‘s personality. What makes your brand personality unique?

Personality image: This is an actual image of a person that embodies the traits you wish to include in your brand. This makes the personality less abstract. Pick a famous person, or a person with whom your team is familiar. If your brand has a mascot or representative that already embodies the personality, use that instead. Describe the attributes of the mascot that communicate the brand’s personality.

Brand traits: List five to seven traits that best describe your brand along with a trait that you want to avoid. This helps those designing and writing for this design persona to create a consistent personality while avoiding the traits that would take your brand in the wrong direction.

Personality map: We can map personalities on an X / Y axis. The X axis represents the degree to which the personality is unfriendly or friendly; the Y axis shows the degree of submissiveness or dominance.

Voice: If your brand could talk, how would it speak? What would it say? Would it speak with a folksy vernacular or a refined, erudite clip? Describe the specific aspects of your brand’s voice and how it might change in various communication situations. People change their language and tone to fit the situation, and so should your brand’s voice.

Copy examples: Provide examples of copy that might be used in different situations in your interface. This helps writers understand how your design persona should communicate.

Visual lexicon: If you are a designer creating this document for yourself and/or a design team, you can create a visual lexicon in your design persona that includes an overview of the colors, typography, and visual style that conveys your brand‘s personality. You can be general about these concepts, or include a mood board.

Engagement methods: Describe the emotional engagement methods you might use in your interface to support the design persona and create a memorable experience. We‘ll learn more about these in the next chapter.

**You can catch the rest of this article here http://www.alistapart.com/articles/personality-in-design/

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