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Archive for the “Social Marketing” Category

Social Media for B2B

During the initial stages of a new client meeting, the discussion often turns to the integration of social media platforms. For some companies the potential is obvious and the strategy comes naturally. B2B social media strategy often takes more effort, but can hold enormous potential. Below are a few tips for B2B companies who want to dip their feet in the social media waters.

Start Small
Listening and observing the conversations that are going on in social media can provide immense understanding. Part of your strategy should include observing how your industry is using social media and how each platform is utilized. It is unwise to jump into every social media platform at once. Your success in any platform is directly related to how much time and energy you have to put into it. Social mention is a great tool to use so that you can see what conversations are going on and where. Take some time to search for conversations that include the products/services you sell and your company name. These conversations will help to guide you in the direction you should take.

Get Linked
LinkedIn is a great platform for B2B’s looking for a place to start in social media. It can be used for employment, making connections, and professional discussion. LinkedIn recently updated their personal profiles to create a sleek, simpler and more user friendly look. Business profiles could be on the horizon for an update as well, so it might be time to create a profile or add to the one that you have. LinkedIn groups are a great way to join a community or establish one. Starting a group requires time because you will need to promote the group and also moderate and start the discussion. Before starting your own group, join one to gain a better understanding of how it works and what to expect.

Build Credibility
A blog is an excellent place for businesses to create valuable content that holds mutual benefits for both the creator and the reader. Search engines look highly upon new content, so as long as your blog is embedded into your site you’ll begin to reap the rewards of creating fresh content. New content also gives your visitor a reason to return to your website. Up-to-date content presents an excellent opportunity for internal linking which is another way to optimize your site for search engines. Tie your social media efforts to your blog by providing sharing icons so that visitors can share your content through different social media platforms. In addition to the SEO opportunities, blogs also give companies an opportunity to build their reputation as an expert in your industry.

Whether you are starting your social media strategy or adding to one that already exists, Starkmedia can help. We have experience with everything from the creating a social media strategy to developing the applications that will support it.

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SEO Strategies to Rank Higher & Gain More Traffic

When it comes to marketing exposure on the web, search still reigns supreme. Google continues to get smarter at displaying the most relevant results. Users are getting the information they need faster than ever. A win, win right? Not if your website isn’t showing up in the first page of search results. 75% of search engine users never scroll past the firstSearch Engines use more Social Networks page of search results. The winners on the first page get the spoils; qualified leads and willing buyers. The losers are left with the leftovers. So, how do you show Google you mean business in 2012? We’re glad you asked…

BE SOCIAL
2012 has already been the year of social media. Not only has there been an increase in user engagement, but searchengines have incorporated social media into everything they do. Search results contain more social media pages and mentions. Ranking algorithms are now strongly affected by one’s social media presence. Why are search engines all about social media? Social media helps spread good information around among friends unlike ever before. It is not only helping businesses interact and engage with their fans, but it’s becoming vital for businesses to continue to display on the first page of search results. Studies have shown that a particular business’ social presence (especially on Google+) has a direct effect on where they rank in Google. At this point, social media is a no brainer. Develop a social strategy, find & engage with your fans, and watch your search results improve.

WRITE VALUABLE CONTENTContent is King
With all this talk about social media, one thing is certain. Content is still the king of SEO. Nothing is more important than fresh, quality content that users find as valuable information. It’s not acceptable anymore to create a website, ignore it for years, and expect to show up on the first page in search engines. Explore opportunities to create valuableand link-worthy content on your website. As a result, Google will recognize you as an authority in your industry, andreward your search results accordingly. Create a blog about the latest advancements in the industry. Statistics show that companies who blog have 434% more indexed pages in Google, which means more leads. Update your blog with the latest news stories about your business on a consistent basis. Remember to write content with the end user in mind, not search engines. If people like the content on your page, they will share it on their social networks, and your website will reap the rewards.

RICH SNIPPET OPTIMIZATION
One of the newest and most effective ways to gain trust with Google and increase exposure in search results is having rich snippets for the pages of your website. By applying microdata on your website’s source code, you are able to tellRich SnippetsGoogle to display even more information in your search results such as the author, recipes, video, products, business locations, events, and more. The implementation of rich snippets on top results has been shown to increase click-through-rates dramatically because of the perceived value of the content.

The value of SEO simply cannot be overlooked as 93% of all online experiences begin with a search engine. Understand the keywords your potential leads are using to search, develop an SEO friendly website, and implement a solid social media & content marketing strategy. Need help understanding how SEO works? Interested in integrating a blog or social media platforms to your website? Starkmedia understands the importance these elements have on a web presence, and we’d like to help.

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New Avenues for Online Marketing

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Internet is a constantly changing smorgasbord of new marketing platforms. At it’s current pace it is difficult to differentiate what tools are worth your time. We’ve listed a few new platforms and laid out whom they will benefit the most.

Mobile Websites
Although mobile websites have been around for a while, they have moved from an emerging trend to a mandatory marketing tool. Half of all local searches are done via mobile phone. Hubspot.com reports that Mobile Internet users will reach 113.9 million in 2012, up 17% from 2011. Mobile must be considered for businesses that are currently using their websites as a main source of marketing – meaning it’s important for all.

Web Apps
With so many new devices for browsing the web, companies are finding it necessary to create specific apps for each device, which can prove costly. Web apps provide companies with a cost effective approach. A web application uses the power of the Internet to drive its functionality and since it is accessed via browser it performs cross platform. Updates are done seamlessly without the need for downloading the latest version, which benefits both the user and the company.

Responsive Web Design
Now that desktops aren’t the only tools for browsing the web responsive web design has come into the picture. The design is built to adjust to the size of the browser for whatever device you are using (mobile phone, tablet, etc.). The benefit lies in its ability to adjust the layout of the design to fit the device as well as convenient updating. Instead of meticulously updating several sites, updates are done in one location and apply to all layouts. Companies who have a tech savy target audience are prime candidates for this design. In order to reap the benefits of this design style, it is also important to look at your product and services offering. If these areas of your website are text heavy you may be better served by a customized mobile website with select information.

Pinterest
With all the attention it’s gathered lately, this virtual pinboard has gained much popularity. Pinterest gives you the ability to organize and share all the things you find on the web. With a primary demographic consisting of women ranging from ages 25-34, it holds potential for businesses that are retail focused and have a target audience that matches the demographic. Some companies that have found creative ways to use Pinterest for business are Gap and The Travel Channel.

Instagram
Since photo sharing is one of the most common practices of social platforms, the creators of Instagram hit the nail on the head. This popular app allows you to snap a picture, make edits and apply filters then share it on Instagram or another social platform of your choice. Recently, Facebook decided to buy Instagram, so you’ll only be seeing more of this popular app in the future. If you have already built a following on Facebook or your followers are receptive to images, adding this app to your posting repertoire can help add interest to your updates.

QR Codes
These barcodes are popping up all over the place from magazines to store front windows. To use a QR code, a mobile user scans the barcode with an app on their phone and is given direct access to whatever information the creator intends. They are most commonly used to link to a contest or additional information about a product. The important thing to remember is that they are often accessed via smart phone so whatever destination you plan on sending them to should be created for a mobile device. If your target audience consists of tech savy smart phone users, this marketing tool is for you.

Is it time to try one of these platforms? Starkmedia can help.

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Early Insights for Facebook Timeline for Brands

With the recent release of Facebook Timeline for Brands, marketers and businesses alike wondered how this new layout would affect user interaction with a brand. Would the elimination of a default tab hurt brands more than it would help? How would this affect user engagement with a page? Now, with data from early adopters of the Facebook Timeline and all businesses being forced to make the switch on March 30th, we are able to gain some insight into these questions to hopefully give you some helpful tips for marketing your business in the Facebook Timeline world.

Users are more Engaged than ever

The transition to Timeline has already shown an immediate boost in user engagement, with likes & comments per page post increasing more than ever. Why is this? The new Timeline creates a more visually stimulating experience with the addition of the beautiful cover photo and the change to larger photo posts. Because of the increase in engagement for photo & video posts, make sure you are taking advantage of both to create visually engaging material. Also, the addition of the new “pinned posts” & “featured posts” functions present a great opportunity to highlight especially important material. These new functions have shown to the potential to generate more ‘likes’ and increase user engagement more than a regular post.

No Landing Page, No Problem

When Facebook announced they were eliminating custom landing page apps for brands, many businesses were rightfully concerned. Research has since suggested this change may not be as detrimental as many had once thought. The transition to Timeline has shown an insignificant change to the daily fan growth rate, which means users still have to be convinced to like a brand page. Custom apps are still a great way to interact with users, generate ‘likes’, and expand your reach. With Facebook’s change to allow custom apps to be featured at the top of a brand page with a graphic, users are more prone to interact with custom apps. Many brands are turning to a custom forum app that allows users to become a part of a community where they can get their questions answered and interact with other fans. This has been just one of many effective ways custom apps have been utilized in the new Timeline.

At an early outlook, it seems as though the transition to Facebook Timeline for Brands has been a positive one, helping to increase user engagement to pages in just about every area. By looking at some early trends, we hope these insights will help you adapt your social marketing strategy accordingly. Starkmedia is committed to helping businesses develop a lasting presence on the web, whether it is social media management or custom app development.

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