What Can a Social Media Calendar Do for You?

Have you ever wondered how those magazines you read get put together?
Especially if you also know that generally content for the average magazine is put together literally months in advance. While we might be celebrating Christmas, our favourite magazine is putting the final touches on their Labour Day issue.
The answer is that magazines use an Editorial Calendar.
What other applications could such a calendar apply to? Why not a Social Media Content Calendar?

A Social Media Content Calendar Makes Sense
An editorial calendar helps keep a consistent message. For instance, with a magazine, there are likely several staff or team members working on various aspects of the content at the same time. Everyone on the team shares the calendar and updates. This in turn provides direction to the team. There's no question what each person needs to be doing and when it needs to be done.

A Great Way to Keep You on Time & on Track
Similarly, a Social Media calendar can be a huge asset to a business. It breaks down your marketing strategy into monthly, weekly and daily tasks. As you populate your calendar with tasks, you will be developing a consistent message for your business, just like the magazine staff does. And that's not all. Similar to the magazine, you'll always know what you need to do and when you need to get it done by.

Keep the Calendar Fluid
But wait - something outside the plan just happened. How can you attend to the new information without disrupting your calendar?

You need to remember that, just like the marketing strategy you put into place at the beginning of the year, things can impact that strategy. Your calendar, much as your strategy, must be fluid enough to handle the occasional hiccup or allow you to jump on an unexpected opportunity.

Similarly to how you revisit your marketing strategy throughout the year, you need to revisit your Social Media Calendar as well. Changes to your marketing strategy need to be reflected in your calendar.

Without a calendar, you might not have noticed that there are times throughout the year where you are not doing as much social media activity. This might be just fine if your business tends to relate more to seasonal highs and lows. Perhaps that's the best strategy for you - come on strong when your product or service is in high demand and quiet down a bit during off times.
After all, that's better than simply throwing a pile of confetti out there in the hope that something sticks. Quality will always make a better impact.

Your calendar is also a go-to place for ideas that occur to you. And a way better repository than scraps of paper or post-it notes stuck to your screen.
If your marketing strategy includes outsourcing your social media work and/or content writing, imagine what a benefit the calendar will have not only for your business but for those you have outsourced to.

Let's Recap the Benefits of a Social Media Calendar
Breaks down your monthly, weekly and daily tasks into manageable bites.
Allows flexibility so you can take advantage of an occurrence or opportunity.
Provides an easy way to review and revisit what's working and what's not.
Makes obvious the times during the year when your content might be a little light.
Makes sure the people you outsource to are on the same page.
Acts as a repository for great ideas.

There's One More Reason
We've all done it. Spent more time on the enjoyable tasks and left the not-so-much-fun stuff behind. And we also know the stress that adds to our lives.
Perhaps we're just not comfortable writing content or we envy the way some people seem to have complete mastery over social media but we feel hopelessly muddled every time we log onto Facebook.
Having a Social Media Calendar in your arsenal takes a huge amount of pressure off yourself. Now you know what to do and when to do it.


By Orzala Quddusi 

If you need help developing a Marketing Strategy or developing a Social Media Calendar, we can assist you. We'll also implement those strategies if you need that help too! 

Orzala Quddusi is the founder & CEO of Make it Happen Services, a company dedicated to help small business owners increase their market reach through Social media and email marketing. Download a free copy of Social Media Calendar by visiting http://www.mihservices.ca

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Orzala_Quddusi

 

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How Facebook Could Be Influencing Election Day

Political Apptivism 

It was the mid-term elections in the United States this week, and America's many Facebook users logged in to discover the 'Megaphone' voting announcement. Appearing on top of user's news feeds, it pushed them to go and vote. This is not the first time that Facebook has used its influence to tempt its users into voting. Another version of the Megaphone appeared in 2008, but this year they have tweaked the algorithm so that the feature reaches out to all users old enough to vote.

The exciting feature lets you see which of your friends have voted or are planning to vote. For those unsure about where to go, especially first time voters, Facebook will point you in the direction of your nearest polling station. Once you have voted, you can post on Facebook: "I'm A Voter" or "I'm Voting."

Facebook is working under the assumption that if you see that your friends have been voting then you are more likely to vote. But what are Facebook's real intentions? Could they be influencing the end result? A Facebook spokesperson has stated that: "Our effort is neutral, while we encourage any and all candidates, groups and voters to use our platform to engage on the elections, we as a company have not used our products in a way that attempts to influence how people vote."

In this case, it seems that Facebook's intentions are pretty clear: to ensure that people do their civic duty and go vote. However, in the future, Facebook could become an important political tool. Over the summer, Facebook had, controversially, influenced what users saw on their news feed to see if a load of negative posts would make people feel sad and vice versa. Facebook could potentially influence who people want to vote for by making one political party more visible on News Feeds than others.

However, Facebook is promoting social engagement and should be applauded for their efforts. More often that not, young people won't cast their vote, meaning a large chunk of the population remains unrepresented. Facebook is a large part of young people's lives and so it makes sense that it should be used to push people into casting their vote. Social media should play a large part in promoting social engagement and political activism because it is the space where most people spend a large amount of time. 

How to get  young people to go vote? Maybe social media is the answer.

by Laura Veit

Laura is a recent graduate from University of East Anglia in Film and Television Studies, currently interning as a content writer but hoping to one day live off her writing. Follow her @LauraAtSMF.

Source: http://www.socialmediafrontiers.com/2014/11/how-facebook-could-be-influencing.html 

If you wish to master social media for your business,  please collect my 4 free ebooks at  

http://www.methodsocialmedia.com/

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Secret Social Media Strategy Used By 7 Figure Earners

Article by Edward Liew

I do not usually talk about social media as I am not an expert in this niche. However, I learnt something very valuable recently during a mastermind session with fellow internet marketers. I was told that this strategy is what all the 6 to 7 figure income earners are using on their social media platform.

By using this strategy, I hope you will reap higher success in your social media. So, what is this secret strategy?

"Talk About Yourself"

Well, you may have heard that the way to build a following on social networks, for example, Twitter, is to promote other people's work. People don't want to hear you talk about yourself all the time, right?
This advice is well-meaning and sounds good on the surface. But, it's also wrong.

Promoting other people's work and sharing links to interesting articles is fine, but do not expect that merely doing that will help you gain followers or attention. People follow you (or your business) because that's what they are interested in - You.

For example, I follow "Mr X" tweets and posts because I am interested in what he has to say. If he spent all his time talking about other people and mentioning his other fans, I would not as interested.
What should you talk about online? It's simple: Talk about yourself and your business. Really. If people do not like what you do or say, they can unfollow you, but chances are that you will gain far more followers than you lose.

Finally, remember that online social networks are merely reflections of what is happening elsewhere. Want more Twitter followers? Then do something interesting... away from Twitter.

In other words, what you do offline can affect your online success in social media. Share with your fans on your life and your business. Tell them more about yourself and your family. We are, after all, humans and humans like connections.

Connect with your fans on a superficial level and you will reap superficial results. Connect them to your heart and your results will blow your mind away!

Beside Twitter, the other popular social networks platform used by the high income earners, include Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Facebook and Instagram allow photo to be posted. YouTube allow videos to be uploaded. But if you are an introvert and is shy about letting the world see you, you can skip YouTube for now.

by Edward Liew

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Secret-Social-Media-Strategy-Used-By-7-Figure-Earners&id=8726435

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5 Ways to Win With Social Media

Make Social Media Work For You

Let's face it, if a marketing tactic doesn't serve to somehow influence sales, then the time and money invested in it is down the drain. Social media can drive sales, but it's easy to make mistakes and waste your time.

Here are five examples of those who succeeded:

Social Media Examiner: Michael Stelzner kept going after his vision of an online magazine devoted to social media, even after friends and business partners told him the Web did not need another social media blog. He got the website ready, then took a video crew to a couple of major events where he had access to some of the biggest names in social media. He then broadcast those videos on the website and backed them up with several articles each week. Now it is recognized as the best social media magazine in the world. “All we did was rely on social media to grow this,” Stelzner said.

Lesson: Don’t worry if everyone says you can’t when you know you can.

On Track Tips: Just a couple of years ago, Jason Wiser was struggling to get his company off the ground and figure out who his ideal customer was. Today, he is one of the most-followed and trusted small businesses on Google+. He also maintains a strong Twitter presence, a well-trafficked blog, YouTube presence, and hosts a podcast. Jason’s big leverage point:Repurposing content. He uses Google Hangouts On Air (HOA) to interview rock star gurus like Guy Kawasaki and Chris Brogan. Jason and his team then turn each HOA into a YouTube, a podcast, and a blog article. No one delivers more value or gets more out of each tactic than Jason Wiser. His next project: A general contracting site for getting online.

Lesson: Get the most use of out every piece of content you produce.

Culinary Connection: How does a startup school with no building and no teachers get started? Taking their unique idea to train chefs by placing them in the kitchen with those already excelling at the culinary arts, Culinary Connection visited top restaurants in the USA, then parlayed those visits into partnerships and testimonials. From there, word of mouth via social media — primarily Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest — led to a mention on the Larry King Live show. Once potential clients see the wisdom of a the programme, the sale is almost a given. It’s getting the word out that is important, and social media, coupled with regular articles on their own blog, drives the message.  

Lesson: Great ideas need to be announced – social media can help you do that.

 Source: theconversation.com

StuKent: When Stuart Draper attended college, there was just one class in Internet marketing. Five years after graduation, that scenario hadn't changed much. That prompted Draper to create his own coursework and offer it to colleges as an online option. Stuart relied primarily on Twitter and Twitter Chats to begin getting the word out and build buzz. He then personally called department heads around the nation to get their buy-ins for the course. StuKent is changing marketing education at the collegiate level.

 Lesson: Develop a plan for your social media work — always have a goal in mind.

Debbie White Agency: After setting sales records for Fortune 500 companies, White took her brand of low-pressure, high-results sales to clients on the speaking seminar circuit. After teaching some of the most influential speakers in the world how to sell, she began focusing her efforts on directly helping professionals and executives realize that everyone, even lawyers and bankers, is in sales. Debbie had little luck with Facebook, but found her best place for client mining to be LinkedIn.

Lesson: Use the social media sites and tools that best fit for YOUR audience.

The wise use of social media can propel your company to success. You should avoid fake accounts, pseudonyms, and any deceptive practices. Using your real name can open you up to online pirates, so be sure to take steps to protect your name and brand. Never, ever slander another company to make yours look good. Play fair and let the world know what you have to offer.

Written by TeamSMF
Source: http://www.socialmediafrontiers.com/2014/10/5-ways-to-win-with-social-media.html#more

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How To Use Twitter to Build Your Brand

Launched in March of 2006, Twitter is a social media success story. On average, users now post more than 500 million tweets daily. Moreover, the use of hashtags (#) allows the grouping of similarly-themed tweets, meaning you can easily find and follow topics of interest.

Bottom line: Twitter is a powerful tool for media professionals looking to keep up with topical news, monitor a topic, research a topic, or network with others. If you think Twitter is irrelevant or full of talkers, think again. By utilising a few simple tools, you can reap valuable information with relatively little effort or cost.

And the more you know, the better prepared you are to make informed decisions.

What can you measure with Twitter?

You can't manage something you can't (or don't) measure. Twitter allows you a close look at a surprising number of important metrics, thereby giving you pertinent statistics and insight for strategic planning.

For instance, here are three important metrics you can easily determine about your Twitter account:

• Follower Count: While not a stand-alone indicator of either popularity or interaction (follower count is easily skewed, just buy a few thousand), follower count does provide insight, especially when you look deeper to WHO is doing the following. No special tool is needed to determine this metric. Every Twitter profile reveals the total number of tweets, the number of followers, and how many others are being followed.
• Follower Growth: This one takes some tracking over time. You can do that manually; simply record starting numbers on a spreadsheet and record the change at intervals. You can also find tools (paid and free) that provide growth tracking. Online services come and go, so it is always best to perform a current search for them. Check Twitaholic for an interesting look at a simple and revealing read out.
• Reach: When you tweet, are you shouting down an empty pipe or are others really listening and reacting? Reach tells you how many others your messages are (potentially) touching. Want to know how much buzz a television special generated last night? Are you wondering how well a certain hashtag is doing? Try TweetReach on for size.

These three are but a beginning. Think about the metrics important to you. Chances are the tool to determine them is already developed and waiting.REMEMBER: Twitter data is almost entirely transparent. You can look deeply at the metrics for your own account and you can scrutinise the accounts of others.

Set up a listening post

Some Twitter services are free. Some are paid. Most offer both a lite (free) and intensive (paid) version. The possibilities are constantly in flux, with new tools and services popping up (and going away) on a regular basis.

By setting up a listening post, you can monitor any person, any company, or any topic being discussed on Twitter (which covers a whole lot of ground).

Here are a few of the best-known providers:

• Hootsuite: One cool tool. Hootsuite is a command station for managing your own account, following other accounts, keeping up with the activity being generated around terms and hashtags — it is a full service monitoring tool. And you can not only listen to what is happening, but send out tweets (or schedule tweets to be sent later) directly from the dashboard. Even the free version is powerful. Hootsuite gets the Writer's Choice nod.
• Topsy: If you've yet to be overly impressed by a social media research tool, this one might turn the tide. Social search, social analytics, social trends — Topsy churns out a user-friendly ton of data. Definitely take a look at Topsy.
• SocialOomph: This service is similar to Hootsuite. Compare both to consider which would provide the best match for you and your needs. While the free version is not as robust as the one offered by Hootsuite, the premium model is stacked with research possibilities.

One more observation of importance: Twitter is especially powerful for finding out about mobile users. The 140-character limit for tweets matches the normal activity of text-messaging aficionados perfectly. The Compete 2012 study confirmed that one-fifth of all mobile Twitter use is on tablets — a growing segment as the industry evolves — with the majority being either Android or Apple tablets.

Why does type of device matter?

Mobile users tend to be more active, more engaged with brands, and more engaged with content. Once considered only a young person's favourite device, mobile has exploded. Even Grandma is carrying a smartphone — and she is using it.

By monitoring the Twitter terms, people, or topics that matter to you and engaging those who care about the same topics in conversation, you'll find out more, do more, earn more and have more fun.

Written by TeamSMF

Contact us on Twitter, on Facebook, or leave your comments below. To find out about social media training or management why not take a look at our website for more info http://socialmediacambridge.co.uk/.

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