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Public Opinion

Posted By Vanessa Mentor as communications, outreach

Posted 08.25.2011

The blogosphere is a populous place. From individuals to corporations it seems almost everyone has embraced blogging. While there are many components to tracking the success of a blog, comments have always been the most immediate indicator of success. Not anymore. Commenting has decreased in favor of sharing.

The decrease in commenting can be accredited to none other then social media. More and more people are opting to share posts they find interesting rather then comment. And guess what? It’s good for business! Think of it this way… having a client tell you they are happy with the work you provided them is great, but what’s even better is having that client tell 5 friends they are happy with the work YOU provided them.

Adding a sharing tool (a widget that allows your blog visitors to easily send your link out to their social networks) is a great way to get visibility and drive your brand values. It’s also a great way to get a group of people talking about your brand who otherwise wouldn’t. Be sure to look for sharing plugins that make it easy for you to track who is sharing your link. (AddThis is the industry standard, it’s easy to install and best of all free).

As nice as it is to hear all the positive feedback you also want to be able to track down any negative issues as well (remember social networking is a great opportunity for customer service . Add sharing tools to your blog today to open the conversation… to everyone.

Tags: blog, blogging, blue daring, blue daring consulting, Creating a buzz, facebook, marketing, people, social media, social networking, twitter, vanessa, Vanessa Mentor, vanewpc, visibilty, vmentor
Posted in communications, outreach | No Comments »

Google + My Thoughts

Posted By Vanessa Mentor as communications, on the web

Posted 07.12.2011

This past month Google launched the much anticipated Google+, the social networking site that is said to finally be competition for Facebook. As with most Google products Google+ is currently invite-only during this initial launch. Like most people who are into this sort of thing I was (impatiently) awaiting an invitation. Saturday morning I finally got it. These are my initial thoughts on the new kid on the block.

Sealed with a K.I.S.S. – The look and feel of this site is very simple and clean. The Keep It Stupid Simple principle is most certainly applied. With social networking the content is driven by users whose content cannot be anticipated. Keeping the site design simple allows the website to avoid looking cluttered.

Easy Catch – The usability of the site is also pretty intuitive. The different sections on the site all have catchy names that make it easy for you to associate them with their purpose. All your updates and friends updates can be found on the Stream, Your friends can be found and grouped together in the Circles section, conversations happen over in the Huddle, and Spark is the section dedicated to showcasing and discovering things that interest you – a strategic repurposing of Google’s all powerful search. Finally if you need some face time with a friend or two head on over to the Hangout section for video chatting.

Seamlessly Annoying – Since this is a Google product naturally the site seamlessly integrates all your Google accounts into your profile. No need to upload pictures. Your Picasa (soon to be Google photos) automatically feeds into your Google+ account. As much as I enjoy having one less thing to do this ended up being even more of a hassle as I had to go into my Picasa account and change the visibility settings to a ton of my albums.

Out of Business – If you are wondering how and if your company should set up a Google+ account the only answer is no. Google has yet to open up the new site to businesses and brands and in this early stage most users are just familiarizing themselves with the network and are more focused with building their personal circles.

Even though Google+ isn’t a place for brands just yet I think Google definitely has the clout to make this a top contender in the social networking scene which in the future could lead to a new venue for online advertising. I encourage you to bookmark the site and keep your eye on it for future marketing opportunities.. In the interim take note on Google’s simple, clean, and catchy approach to social networking which is a + in my book.

Tags: blue daring, blue daring consulting, business, chicago, Creating a buzz, creating buzz, facebook, google, google+ for business, marketing, social media, social networking, usability, Vanessa Mentor, vmentor
Posted in communications, on the web | No Comments »

Build to Last

Posted By Vanessa Mentor as communications, on the web, outreach, strategic planning

Posted 05.23.2011

If my master plan has worked you have read my blogs which have helped you see the importance of social media for your business. So now that you have set up your preferred profiles and channels for social media marketing (SMM) it’s time for you to acquire followers. Having a strong fan base is the key to SMM success. Here are some tips to help you build your community:

Right under your nose – The first place to look for social media followers is your client list. Current or past clients are the ideal audience to build a foundation for your fan base because they (hopefully) have a good relationship with your company and will have no problems letting people in their network know how much they enjoy working with you.

If WE build it – We’ve all heard the saying ‘If you build it, they will come.” Unfortunately it isn’t that easy with social media. Including your audience in decisions and encouraging them to voice their opinions will make them root for you much harder. When WE build it instead of YOU not only will people come they will tell their friends about it.

Make it worth their while – The more brands realize the importance of social media, the more saturated social networking sites are becoming. People have the option to follow hundreds upon hundreds of their favorite brands. In order to stand out you’ll need something exclusive to offer your followers. Whether it is exclusive information or special offers/discounts, show your online community you appreciate them.

Follow the leader – A great way to build a following is to tap into a community that already exists by building a relationship with its leaders. Look for popular bloggers in your field, follow them and engage in online conversations. Their networks will soon notice your back and forth and their curiosity will most likely get you a few new followers.

Make friends, not enemies – Definitely try different tactics for gaining new followers to see what works and what doesn’t however, there is one method that has proven to be a social networking no-no. Do not bombard your followers’ networks with unsolicited messages/request to follow you. Most social networking sites have strict rules on this practice; mainly it’s spam. Spamming is counterproductive to building your network since your account will most likely be suspended.

Taking these tips into consideration, your follower count should go up in no time. Remember to provide valuable information and engage with your new found friends. Staying an active member of your own online community is just as important as seeing the numbers rise.

Tags: Creating a buzz, facebook, marketing, marketing efforts, people, social media, social networking, twitter, Vanessa Mentor, vmentor, youtube
Posted in communications, on the web, outreach, strategic planning | No Comments »