Many companies have relied on outside social media consultants and agencies (and unfortunately a few gurus) to help them get started with social media. That can work in the beginning, but it’s hard to be truly ’social’ and ‘authentic’ when somebody who isn’t part of your company is managing your social media presence. For companies that see social media as a long-term must, it’s time to consider building a competent in-house team that focuses, in whole or in large part, on social media. [...]
12 Days of Social Media
Tip #7: Make measurement a priority
Over the past year, many companies have jumped on the social media bandwagon, acknowledging that it’s more than just a trend. While many social networks have come and gone, others, like Facebook and YouTube, have proved their longevity. [...]
12 Days of Social Media
Tip #5: Encourage participation
If you want your social media presence to stand out and provide instant gratification for your customers, encourage participation with contests. [...]
12 Days of Social Media
Tip #3: Think web presence, not website
Are you with us so far? Social media is certainly involved, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. [...]
12 Days of Social Media
Tip #2: Commit, don’t campaign
Like most New Year’s resolutions, diving into the social media world can’t dry up by February first. Stagnant pages and stale information becomes wallpaper in a vibrant, ever-changing online landscape. [...]
12 Days of Social Media
Tip #6: Ask, don’t tell
The word conversation has become synonymous with social media. Appropriately so, as it encapsulates one of its most useful features for companies— the ability to engage in two-way communication with your audience. [...]
12 Days of Social Media
Tip #4: Set a content schedule
If you suffer from social media distraction — and believe us, we know how time consuming it can be — set a consistent posting schedule and content plan. Not only will this benefit your time management, but it makes it easier for your audience as well. [...]
Best of 2009
Best of 2009: Community initiative
About a year ago, I found myself in a gutted room on Barrington Street, sitting on a rickety chair with a big, fat marker in my hand. It was a brainstorming session for a communal business centre—a hub for freelancers, creative types, entrepreneurs—and a good friend had invited me along with little introduction. Each of us in attendance, many of whom had just met, had been handed said hefty writing tool to map out what we thought the space (what would later be the Hub Halifax) should look like, where we saw the walls, the desks, the rooms and the details finding a home. From the very beginning, the Hub has been all about collaboration. [...]
12 Days of Social Media
Tip #1: Don’t reinvent the wheel
This is the first installment of our 12 days of social media. Each day, until December 24, enjoy a social media tip that will help grow your brand in the new year.
The beauty of leveraging the benefits of social media is that the tools already exist. Instead of building from scratch—and wasting budget and resources—partner with the third-party tools and communities where your target audience and demographic already spend their time. [...]
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