Tag Archives: social media

Google Plus is All Grown Up

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In December last year, Google announced that over 500 million people had upgraded to Google Plus with 235 million active across Google (Using +1 apps in Google, participating in hangouts, etc.).

A recent study of social media usage by big brands is located at BrandZ top 100 global brands. The results, some of which are outlined below, show that Google Plus and YouTube have become a powerful social media tool that the strongest international brands are beginning to utilize in their marketing.

YouTubeGoogle Plus

  1. YouTube and Google Plus continue to combine their efforts. 87% of the top brands surveyed have an active YouTube channel. The top 100 brands on YouTube have collectively garnered over 3 Billion views of the videos that have been placed in their channels. Recent changes instituted by Google + have created integration with YouTube, making this an even more powerful combination.
  2. 75% of Global Brands have an active Google+ profile, according to the study.  Brands are finding Google Plus to be a cost-efficient and effective method of connecting with clients.
  3. 59% of Brands with Google + Pages engaged their circles with posts in February 2013. This shows that the Brands are understanding the value of staying connected to their audience through Google Plus.

Bottom Line: The results of this study illustrate that Google Plus has all of the makings of an effective marketing platform for business owners. For local businesses, the ties between Google + and Google + local listings are an added bonus. If you have not already done so, establish a Google Plus Page and begin introducing your business and growing a following with that audience.

Eric Van Cleave is a Partner in Zenergy Works, A Santa Rosa, California SMO, SEO, and Website Development Firm.

 

Social Media User Profiles

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According to a recent survey by Pew Research, 67% of all internet users indicate that they use social networking sites. This is not surprising, but the breakdown by social media platform sheds some light on who is interacting on social sites.

social media

  • Facebook: 67% of internet users are on Facebook; the largest class of users is adult womean aged 18-29.
  • Twitter: Only 16% of those surveyed are users; the platform is a favorite of urban residents who are adults ages 18-29.
  • Pinterest: 15% of internet users surveyed enjoy pinterest; especially appealing to women, andadults under 50 years of age.
  • Instagram: Just 13% of internet users are on Instagram; especially appealing to adults ages 18-29, women, and urban residents.
  • Tumblr: Only 6% of those surveyed use this social network; primarily adults ages 18-29.

On the whole though, the survey indicates that social network usage trends more female, white, young (18-29), somewhat educated, and urban.

Bottom Line: No real surprises here – the trick is to match your social media approach to address the concerns and needs of the primary groups of users for these various social media platforms.

Eric Van Cleave is a Partner in Zenergy Works, A Santa Rosa, California SMO, SEO and Website Development Firm.

Social Media Marketing-Right Versus Wrong Tactic

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Social media online marketing is a relatively new discipline, but practical experience has shown that some “shortcuts” have had little or no effect on truly improving social media presence.  Below are some examples of tactics that work, and shortcuts that do not work.

Social Media Online Marketing

Increasing Your Audience: Social media marketers have been tempted to purchase followers for their Facebook and Twitter accounts. This has led to a temporary illusion of popularity, but I have not seen a case of this strategy reaping long term benefits. The best way to increase your social media audience is with creative, valuable and unique content. Increased exposure of content can be achieved with sponsored posts on Facebook and creating strategic alliances with other related firms to trade information and content to reach related, but non-competitive businesses.  (ie. Auto Repair Shops and Used Car Sellers and Test Only Smog Shops.)

Promoting Using Facebook Cover Photos: Facebook clearly outlines that cover photos should not contain price or purchase information, email addresses, mailing addresses or website addresses, and cannot be more than 20 percent text.   If you must use the cover photos to promote a product, be clever, leave a lot to the imagination, and tease the viewer to read your page to find out how to get more information on a new product or promotion.  These rules are for the good of the Facebook page owner as well as the viewers. Making your Facebook page look like an ad is a negative.

Automated Responders: It is the natural instinct to want to entice a new follower to your Facebook page to do business immediately with you by employing a responder that will send a new follower a coupon, offer, or some other enticement to begin doing business immediately. It might make more sense to post a different special to all Facebook followers on the same day of each week to train those interested in your business to check for incentives regularly at the same time. Social Media is about relationships with your customers and weaving your business into their lives.

Bottom Line: You should, by now, distrust most “shortcuts” to online marketing success.  Whether it is link building, social media followers, or website content, taking the slow, sure, and hardworking approach will reap more benefits in the long term than any shortcut.

Eric Van Cleave is a Partner in Zenergy Works, a Santa Rosa, California based Social Media, Website Design, and SEO Firm.

Jennifer Filzen & Steph Wargin, Social Media Optimization

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Meet the Zenergy Works Social Media Optimization Team!

Jennifer Filzen for Social Media Optimization

Jennifer Filzen, Content Writer

Social media is an important tool for any company or brand hoping to engage with customers, fans, friends, and industry cohorts. From the start, Zenergy Works has used Social Media Optimization (SMO) to attract new customers and generate interest for our clients’ websites through active engagement with the online community.

Because SMO has become such an important marketing tool for businesses and brands of all types, Zenergy Works has expanded its Social Media Optimization services. To stay on top of the ever-changing environment, we have two team members that take great care of our SMO clients.

If you have not yet met our Social Media Optimization Team, allow us to introduce you to Jennifer Filzen and Stephanie Wargin:

Jennifer Filzen started working with Zenergy Works in 2010 and was our first online community manager. Jennifer comes with an eclectic background of songwriting, event promotion, sales, and marketing. A “Jill-of-all-trades,” Jen has written content for the bulk of our SMO clients and SEO clients, as well.

Stephanie Wargin for Social Media Optimization

Stephanie Wargin, Social Strategist

Stephanie Wargin joined us in late 2012 as a Social Strategist and is a tremendous asset to our SMO team. She comes with a background as an author, blogger, programmer, and social media marketer. Steph will be taking over the lion’s share of our existing SMO accounts in 2013 as we take our SMO strategies to the next level.

We are very fortunate to have these two great copywriters on the Zenergy Works team. Together, they will help build a lively and engaged community around your business or brand. If you have questions about how this dynamic duo can help with your Social Media Optimization, contact Zenergy Works for a free consultation.