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Consider your audience, what value can you provide them, what tips, and secrets can you share that will enhance their understanding, solve their problems or entertain them?
Be useful but most importantly be yourself! AUTHENTICITY is paramount. So find a healthy balance in expressing yourself and what you want while meeting your audience’s needs. It’s a natural human condition to think “What’s in it for me?” so give them a good reason to “like”, engage and keep coming back for more.
Provide incentives – competitions, rewards, acknowledgement (it could be as easy as following someone back).
In your case @elfischer79, and for anyone involved in a third-party competition make sure you abide by the terms and conditions so not to disqualify yourself and also ensure you do not breach your platform user agreements. While Facebook, for example, has relaxed many of its rigid requirements it still requires users to adhere to their terms.
Click here for WordPress.com’s T&Cs
Click here for Tumblr’s Policy
Click here for Google’s Blogger T&Cs
Just like the old property adage that it’s “location, location, location”, keywords will give your blog the signpost to drive qualified traffic to your site and improve your search engine ranking and reach. Don’t type like a robot to get all the keywords you think you need in there. Write naturally, in your own words, and take the time to complete your meta-data: tags; fill-in descriptions including image file names; and don’t be afraid to install a SEO plugin.
This will help you hone your message and breakthrough the noise as there are more than 33 million new posts each month using WordPress alone!
Make it easy for your audience to “like” and share your blog content. Integrate accessible “share buttons” on all of your posts and pages.
Include tools such as Facebook Widgets that can improve your blog’s social proof by demonstrating how many of the user’s friends “like” or recommend the post/site.
When it comes to blogging Its certainly not the case of ‘build it and they will come’! Developing a community of followers takes time but also takes extra effort to promote and market your posts through other channels.
Your blog should be the central hub that hosts your content. Use social media to disseminate “byte-sized” pieces of information “teasers” if you like, to draw your audience in and direct them back to your blog.
Keep messages short and sharp – Twitter only allows you to use 140 characters per Tweet anyway, and this should be used as a guide for all your social media messaging.
Humans are visual creatures – if you can relay your key messages through photos, infographics or video, your audience will be more likely to engage.
Photos are liked 2X more than text updates
Videos are shared 12 times more than links and text posts combined.
Videos posted to YouTube and embedded in your blog will also help boost your search engine ranking on Google.
The frequency of updates can not only influence your search engine ranking, but it’s disheartening to see abandoned blogs where the last post was made months ago. This only gives visitors an excuse not to subscribe or participate. At the same time, don’t post for the sake of posting! Always provide value and keep your audience’s needs in mind.
Most importantly consider WHEN you post:
1. Determine when your audience is most likely to read your blog post.
There’s a lot of debate about when are the best days to post blog content and that’s because it shouldn’t be the same for every industry or business! Those blogging for insomniacs are likely to see results at a different day/time to those who blog for those who work in hospitality or commute.
2. Determine when your audience is most likely to engage with your social media updates.
Research and consider when your audience is active on social media. According to TechCrunch, your Facebook posts are only likely to reach 12% of your FB friends! You’ll want to improve your chances of reaching as many people as possible by posting at a time that your post is likely to appear in their newsfeeds.
Which leads me to the next tip…
Take note of when your post are receiving the higher levels of engagement, experiment and continue to measure/adapt.
Use tools that allow you to track your success.
Reviewing your analytics will allow you to continually refine your content and strategy, and ultimately improve your reach.
Who want’s to have a conversation with a brick-wall? Or be constantly bombarded with marketing hype from a brand that’s just using their platforms as a soapbox? Successful online initiatives are those which understand it’s a conversation. Be sure to:
Avoid such Social faux pas by always thinking about worst-case scenarios – be a pessimist – “what could go wrong here?” “who could I offend?”
Proof read everything before posting and think about the context of your message.
Follow my 7 Pillars of Community Management.
You know those cliffhanger endings… Game of Thrones, House of Cards leave us on the edge of our seats at the end of every episode. Taking tip one (and all the above) into account, find a way you can leave your audience with that sense of always wanting more, encouraging them to return to your blog for more detail, updates and value.
I hope these tips have helped you @elfischer79 and everyone else! Good luck with the blog and #winning that car!
Be sure to let us know how you go!
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s article: Advanced Blogging Tips!
In the meantime check out my 10 TIPS to Developing Thought Leadership Through Social Media.
Managing your Social Media Communities may seem like a daunting task but it doesn’t have to be as complicated as you may think!
Here’s 6 easy steps to help you foster a positive experience for your community members while protecting their rights and freedoms as well as your brands reputation.
When posting and engaging with your audience, please keep in mind the following and respond:
Promptly is no.1 as failing to say something in a reasonable time frame can often be more damaging, as demonstrated by the HOYTS “Rat incident” in 2012.
On April 1st, A photo and video was posted to the Hoyts cinema Australia Facebook Page – these images were of a rat eating the patron’s snacks as they were watching a movie.
As you can imagine questions spread like the plague: was it an April fool’s prank? It looks real – is it real?
It took Hoyts 18 hours to respond to the post. In the meantime it racked up over 3,000 likes, 4,000 shares and more than 2,300 comments on this post alone.
What compounded the negative commentary was the fact that Hoyts were actively responding to rat-free comments and questions and so were obviously aware of the post but doing nothing about it.
It didn’t matter that the team would have been in crisis mode on the ground – their social networks wanted to know what was going on and what was being done about it?
It should have taken them 18 seconds to respond with something to the effect…
thanks for letting us know, we’re looking into the incident and will update you as soon as we have further information.
By the time they responded to the actual post it was too late. It had spawned 1000s of new posts, pictures, memes and comments many referring to their personal encounters with vermin at other Hoyts cinemas around the country.
Some even shared their stories of being treated poorly by staff when they complained about the infestation and others simply expressed their discussed, demanded refunds of their vouchers and pre-paid tickets and vowed never to return again.
Respond to questions and comments transparently on the same platform on which they are made. Acknowledge a detractor’s complaint and then politely encourage people to send feedback through dedicated channels i.e. direct messaging.
If the conversation continues, either from the original detractor or now from multiple, address each and everyone’s concerns, within reason. You may have to address reoccurring complaints in bulk as a quick response, but when time allows, contact each and everyone who contributed to the conversation.
Don’t forget to thank those who have supported you through this period. Your brand defenders are worth their weight in gold!
As things get heated it may be hard to keep your cool, but you must always maintain your brands tone of voice and values. If detractors persist with taunts, direct them to your House Rules or Terms of Use all the while reminding them and the greater audience that:
Don’t victimize detractors – the exception to this rule can be “outing” a troll.
Always consider the nuances of the language that you use in your posts. Sometimes even the most well-intentioned messages can take on a different meaning. Be respectful of your audience. Never use derogatory or offensive language, and be quick to apologize if you’ve made a mistake.
Ahead of the American national holiday held each January in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, the Marine Corps Special Operation Command sent a message across both Twitter and Facebook in which a gunman in full military assault rig is seen aiming his weapon out of an open window.
“Don’t be lone shooter #MLK weekend!” the message read. “[M]ake sure you’ve got security — stay safe!”
Dr. King was assassinated by a sniper on April 4, 1968, and his death sparked a series of violent riots across the US amid heightened race relations in major cities around America. James Earl Ray was ultimately convicted of murdering Dr. King, and authorities say he shot the civil rights leader through the bathroom window of a boarding house, not unlike the one in the image shared by the Marine Corps. over the internet.
As expected, the MARSOC tweet and Facebook post quickly caused uproar across all realms of social media and the armed forces deleted the offensive posts within minutes. The United States Marine Corps was forced to apologize.
“Marines leaders will frequently take the opportunity to remind their personnel to make wise decisions and look out for each other especially before a long holiday weekend. The intent of our recent post was to remind personnel to partner up when going out over the weekend and to look out for each other using military jargon.
When we were alerted to the potential that this military post could be viewed as insensitive or offensive when combined with the historical facts concerning Martin Luther King Jr., we immediately took it down and apologize for any untended disrespect or misperceptions.
Commanders and Marines everywhere are being encouraged this weekend to reflect on Dr. King’s work and the principles he upheld. Martin Luther King day empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers and moves everyone closer to realizing Dr. King’s visions — we are proud to remember Dr. King’s life, sacrifices and accomplishments.”
Wherever applicable, respond in a way that can lighten the mood without degrading the seriousness of the issues concerned.
WARNING: while humour can assist a situation, it may not always be appropriate.
A member of the public asked a question of the Australian 2011 Census’ Twitter account.
6. Technically & AccuratelyEscalate the issue to the most appropriate department and person. Show your community that real (and the right) people are trying to fix the problem. If a primary authoritative source does issue information, clearly attribute it to them.
If you don’t know the answer to a question/problem, don’t pretend you do (that goes for the technical experts as well!). Only respond to comments and questions with accurate, helpful information.
Ensure your experts don’t use technical jargon.
Don’t prioritize speed over accuracy of information.
Regurgitating a preconcieved, impersonal script will only infuriate detractors more and will not win any supporters to your cause. Get personal, use people’s names (@handles) and use similar wording on the same platform as the original message.
Be prepared for more than one comment or response and don’t just keep repeating the same message. Adjust the wording (particularly for your scheduled messages), reminding the community there is a human on the other end of the conversation, not an automated messaging system.
I personally have been a victim of poor community management. I had been on hold for 45mins with Qantas Platinum Member’s priority line. I was trying to speak with someone about changing my flights, as my oldest friend’s water has broken as she was driving me to the airport to catch my scheduled flight. We had to make a unplanned detour to the hospital and so, in order to be with my friend until her husband or baby arrived (whoever got there first), I tried to reschedule my flight. But since no one had anserwed and the Qantas website was so user-unfriendly, I had to leave to catch my plane.
I Tweeted my dissappointment @QantasAirways.
I received a response form them, it was prompt, but devoid of any human intelligence or feeling. They told me to fill out a complaint form and included a link.
That just made me complain via Twitter more, where I was from then on ignored.
I’m one of the flying Kangaroo’s biggest fans but given their track record I don’t know why I expected anything more from their Twitter Community Managers.
Brands should know that their customer service is enhanced by social media (if they do it correctly) rather than hindered. Treat your online audience as you would in person. Brand’s values are front and centre on social media and their reputations are on the line, after all, it’s no longer just a case of “word-of-mouth” it’s “world-of-mouth”.
Please don’t tell your complainant to “fill out a form”. Let them know you’re listening to their concerns through social media but would like them to share more details and therefore use more direct channels.
Applying the 7 pillars to your campaigns and social media initiatives in general, means that you build your reputation as a brand that cares about its community – that you’re not just using your platforms as a one-way marketing channel, but actually inviting engagement and ultimately buy-in from your audience rather than just expecting a “set-and-forget” approach to reap the rewards social media offers.
Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.
I’m really excited to announce that I will be discussing Social Media Monitoring at the panel discussion “A Weapon of Mass Discovery” at THE digital marketing event of the year, Adtech Sydney.
To assume is to fail – KNOW what the online world is saying about your organisation, your products/services and your competitors.
Have you ticked the box of social media monitoring but have no idea how to use the data you’re collecting?
Learn:
Be sure to come and say “Hi”!
Follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NataleeJewel @NataleeJewel
Follow the event on Twitter: https://twitter.com/adtechANZ @adtechANZ
Tweet your questions or leave a comment below!
I look forward to connecting with you 🙂
The final installment of a ten part series – Tip #10 is revealed…
The traditional “soap box” on steroids, social media now broadcasts the voice of thought leaders in a new and electrifying way.
Each social medium, whether it be a micro/blog, web-cast or networked article, is a powerful amplifying system. But combined they are like a turbo charged U2 concert. And just like an open-air gig they will reach audiences who didn’t even buy a ticket.
Thought leaders are innovators. They view the world in which they live differently to others. They articulate these differences, differently; they are not bound by conventional rationality. They assert their insights with a confidence and credibility that attracts and empowers fanatical followers to take further action.
Just as the MTV generation would argue that video actually saved the radio star, social media is the champion of thought leadership in the Twenty-First century; having widened, yet segmented the audience and provided millions with countless opportunities to share their ideas and opinions in a way that has never before been available to them.
Social media is also the ultimate VIP backstage pass – it provides unprecedented access to an arena of thought leaders. You’re just one click away from the likes of Richard Branson, Russel Howcroft and Tim Ferriss, (or at least their social media savvy community managers).
Such superstars along with political leaders, social commentators, celebrities and artists have wised up to leveraging social media to enhance their public profiles and engage directly with their followers to gain greater insights into their markets, constituencies and communities.
So now, it’s your turn to shine.
Although thought leadership is not a new concept, using social media to project your voice further is an innovative process and like music, a precarious balance between science and art.
You’ve managed to expand your reach through video content, blogging, participating in online forums and virtual conferences, now it’s time take centre stage and leverage those relationships you’ve invested time in; send out press releases, promote your content with targeted online ads, and don’t be afraid to ask for endorsements.
Recommendations are considered to be the most resounding social proof – a standing ovation, if you will, that can be displayed on your LinkedIn profile or on your personal website as testimonials.
Social media helps you to harness your talents and shout them from the Rooftops, leaving your audience begging for an encore.
It may be terrifying to stand on the edge of the stage and look out into a mobile-lit sea of opportunity and risk. Rather than closing the curtain – dive right into that moshpit and dare to surf the social media crowd. Only by taking such a leap can you truly unleash your inner-RockStar.
Want all 10 parts NOW?! Get all 10 key takeaways by clicking here now!
The 9th installment of a ten part series – Tip #9 is revealed…
The traditional “soap box” on steroids, social media now broadcasts the voice of thought leaders in a new and electrifying way.
Each social medium, whether it be a micro/blog, web-cast or networked article, is a powerful amplifying system. But combined they are like a turbo charged U2 concert. And just like an open-air gig they will reach audiences who didn’t even buy a ticket.
Thought leaders are innovators. They view the world in which they live differently to others. They articulate these differences, differently; they are not bound by conventional rationality. They assert their insights with a confidence and credibility that attracts and empowers fanatical followers to take further action.
Just as the MTV generation would argue that video actually saved the radio star, social media is the champion of thought leadership in the Twenty-First century; having widened, yet segmented the audience and provided millions with countless opportunities to share their ideas and opinions in a way that has never before been available to them.
Social media is also the ultimate VIP backstage pass – it provides unprecedented access to an arena of thought leaders. You’re just one click away from the likes of Richard Branson, Russel Howcroft and Tim Ferriss, (or at least their social media savvy community managers).
Such superstars along with political leaders, social commentators, celebrities and artists have wised up to leveraging social media to enhance their public profiles and engage directly with their followers to gain greater insights into their markets, constituencies and communities.
So now, it’s your turn to shine.
Although thought leadership is not a new concept, using social media to project your voice further is an innovative process and like music, a precarious balance between science and art.
Your time is valuable and social media and community management is incredibly time consuming. One way of making sure you produce regular quality content can be to work with others.
The success of new institutions such as the Huffington Post demonstrates the effectiveness and competitive advantage of collaboration between multiple contributors.
Robbie Williams started out in the UK boyband Take That. He knew his own strength, his own talent and never waivered in his quest for fame. He appreciated the value of working as part of a team to develop his skills further and waited for the right time to branch-out on his own. Now after years of solo-success, he’s decided the time’s right to re-form Take That and leverage the cyclic popularity of boy-bands.
LadyGaGa started out writing songs for others. If you don’t have the time or means to construct your own arena, find ways to contribute to other people’s blogs – editorialise, whatever it takes to sustain your voice.
Want all 10 parts NOW?! Get all 10 key takeaways by clicking here now!
The 8th installment of a ten part series – Tip #8 is revealed…
The traditional “soap box” on steroids, social media now broadcasts the voice of thought leaders in a new and electrifying way.
Each social medium, whether it be a micro/blog, web-cast or networked article, is a powerful amplifying system. But combined they are like a turbo charged U2 concert. And just like an open-air gig they will reach audiences who didn’t even buy a ticket.
Thought leaders are innovators. They view the world in which they live differently to others. They articulate these differences, differently; they are not bound by conventional rationality. They assert their insights with a confidence and credibility that attracts and empowers fanatical followers to take further action.
Just as the MTV generation would argue that video actually saved the radio star, social media is the champion of thought leadership in the Twenty-First century; having widened, yet segmented the audience and provided millions with countless opportunities to share their ideas and opinions in a way that has never before been available to them.
Social media is also the ultimate VIP backstage pass – it provides unprecedented access to an arena of thought leaders. You’re just one click away from the likes of Richard Branson, Russel Howcroft and Tim Ferriss, (or at least their social media savvy community managers).
Such superstars along with political leaders, social commentators, celebrities and artists have wised up to leveraging social media to enhance their public profiles and engage directly with their followers to gain greater insights into their markets, constituencies and communities.
So now, it’s your turn to shine.
Although thought leadership is not a new concept, using social media to project your voice further is an innovative process and like music, a precarious balance between science and art.
The test of a true Thought Leader is their ability to produce hit after hit, not just topping the charts that one time.
The difference between legends and amateurs is their commitment to their craft. The best musicians don’t just dabble with their music. They practice day-in-day-out. Music is their life!
You don’t have to post daily, but you should take some time each day to refine your skills through research, developing or promoting your ideas as well as cultivating your community by responding or engaging in conversations.
Find a rhythm and melody that works for you. But again, it is imperative to listen to your audience, as there will be a tempo and volume specific to your market and prime channels.
Want all 10 parts NOW?! Get all 10 key takeaways by clicking here now!
