Top 5 Ways to Attract More Followers

Companies that are using social media sites as an outlet to Market their service or product are always looking for more ways to attract customers. Below I will list five ways companies can bring more followers to their sites.

1. Make sure to show the icons of your social media sites on other marketing tools, such as websites, flyers, and broachers. This keeps your customers aware that you are using other means of marketing. Make your online marketing tools are making their Icons click-able to users. By doing this you are making it easier for users to join your network.

2. E-mail plays a big role in communicating with other. In order to gain more people to your network, you need provide your means of social networking at the end of an e-mail. For example at work I have an Icon for LinkedIn at the end of my signature. This allows people that receive e-mails from me to click and become a friend.

3. Use other social media site to promote your social media. For example make your status on Facebook "follow me on twitter @kaseybward". You want to make it a little more excited than my example but it gives you an idea of what I mean.

4. If you work for a company that issues business cards to its employees ask how much more it would be to add your LinkedIn name or Icon to the card. This will help other be aware of your individual resume and business product or service.

5. Write blogs that everyone can find value from. Make your customers want to read your blogs and leave with a much better understanding of a topic or issue. Make sure the reader leaves the blog with something they can use. If you communicate consistently with your followers you should see an increase in users

Social Media Brings Hiring to a New Level

Social Media has brought hiring and looking for jobs to a new level. Companies are paying hiring agencies to find people to fill position they need. A lot of recruiters are searching on LinkedIn, twitter and Facebook for applicants. Today I was checking my twitter account and noticed were someone had posted a co-op position on their status. Within five minutes they had already received three responses about the position. Social Media analyst still believe that "Who You Know" is key but these sites are helping those "who you do know" keep in contact. If you are using these social media sites listed above and keeping them up to date, you are going to be fresh on people’s minds.

Remember that Social Media sites are not the be-all, end-all tactic but it can be your introduction. You will eventually need to meet face to face with your applicants. Sites like LinkedIn provide you with a brief description of someone’s resume; this allows you to skip a step in the hiring process. You know what someone’s work experience and school level before ever bringing them in for an interview. Take a second and Google your name, many employers are taking time to do this. Make sure nothing unprofessional pops up for the world to see. Use the social media sites listed above to market yourself for free.

Local Business Joins Social Media

Griffs Deli is a local restaurant in Bowling Green for those who didn't know. It is located on Scottsville road by BAC(Bowling Green Athletic Club). They serve food such as sandwiches, soups, salads and much more. I recently seen on a friends twitter were they retweeted a status from Griffs Deli stating if they reached 5000 followers they would give away a $500 dollar gift card. So, me being the broke college student I retweet the post and started following the local deli.

Within three days Griffs Deli had accomplished their goal of 500 followers and announced the winner of the gift card, unfortunately I didn't win:(! Griffs has also been having similar contest for their Facebook friends. Today they post this status "Griffs Deli-Don't forget tomorrow at noon we will post a question and the first one to answer correctly will be Facebook Fan of the Week". These statuses keep the audience on Facebook excited and involved with the local business. This makes fans and customers feel that they are a part of the growing experience. I would be curious to know how much revenue has gone up since they have established these social media sites and became consistent with their posts.

Promote a local Business today and become friends on Facebook, just search Griffs Deli.
Follow Griffs Deli on Twitter at @GriffsDeli

Pandora Radio

Pandora radio is an online website that offers music. You have the luxury of choosing what song or artist you want to listen to. Individuals have to make an account before Pandora will let you listen to the music. Pandora is not only accessible on your computer but also on Netflix’s, apple devices and android phones. After you have listened to

I listen to Pandora a lot during the day at work. I always assumed it was a free unlimited website for music but i recently learned that wasn't the case. Pandora offers two options, one being that you can listen for free each month for 40 hours, after that you must start paying. If you decide to continue listening you must pay 0.99$. This is great for Pandora to keep the trend of being a free and cheap site for users to listen to music. They can also make a small amount of money on top of their advertisement sales. Pandora radio offers advertisement commercials after you have listened to a couple of songs. These commercials last anywhere from 30 second to a minute. Pandora also offers a like button; this can help them determine what kind of music to play for you. They use the button as a focus group to help provide better customer service to their users.

Start-up kit to Social Media

I found an interesting article that helps companies and users start-up their social media sites. It maps out steps and a plan for using the sites to the best of your ability. It gives three steps you must follow in order to be successful.

Step 1: Set up your own media outlet
In the first step wants you to create a web base place to publish your thoughts for others to see. It must be easily visible for individuals to access. This includes blogging sites such as the one we are using now.

Step 2: Create Social Identities
Social Identity sites are things such as LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. These need to be used to for brand recognition. Allow others to be aware of brands and what they stand for. It is very important to stay consistent with these sites so that users don't become confuse or stray.

Step 3: Create a Proactive Editorial Plan
This is where you create a strategy for users to visit your web based sites and be aware of what you offer. This is where you want to become viral so that people are talking about your brand. Your company will want to create advertisements, videos, how to's and other attention grabbers.

Following these three simple steps can help you and your company skims the surface of social media. Once you become familiar with the sites, the easier it will come. Staying involved with social media is something that will reward companies in the long run. Those who refuse to use it will be left in the dust.

http://www.socialmedia.biz/

"Check- In"

After discussing Four Square and other "check-in" applications today in class, I wanted to go over the positive and negatives of the new social trend.

Positive: Of course the most positive aspect of the new trend is that it allows businesses to track the traffic in the stores and around the area. It helps zero in on your target market and reward your routine customers. It can also be another way for businesses to help drawl more customers to the area with deals and incentives. Checking-in has become so popular that it has its own applications called Four-Square plus a setting on the Facebook applications for smart phones.

Negative: I recently heard a story on the news that a women's home was broken into and the person charged with the crime admitted that he knew she wasn't home because she had recently checked-in somewhere on Facebook.
Checking-in applications is another way of keeping tabs on people, knowing their every move. This can be dangerous if put into the wrong hands. I don't usually check-in places on a daily basis because it freaks me out to know that hundreds of users are aware of what I’m doing.

This website gave some insight on the new social trend:

http://thereasoner.com/articles/are-online-check-ins-dangerous

LinkedIn

I had a LinkedIn profile before the class required it. My Current job at Northwestern Mutual requires it's employees to have an account. I think requiring an account when starting a job is great idea to get connect to other in your career and previous jobs. I’m not sure how I feel about the social site. I haven't received any leads on jobs or had anyone posting positions. Not a lot of my peers have a profile on the site, so I’m having a hard time on ways to use the website to the best of my ability. I wish the site had different option to get to know other professionals in the field desired. Hopefully I can learn more about the site in this course. If anyone has any suggestion on what I can do to better connect with business professionals on the site, would be great.