The LinkedIn social networking service is best known as a place where professionals meet. Many of those professionals, no doubt, have videos that they would like to share with individuals that may already be their colleagues or with individuals that may need their services and just not know it yet. The LinkedIn social networking service has recently added the ability to include videos on your profile and this should be of use to many different types of users on the site.

Ease of Use

The video upload feature is very easy to use, really having no differences compared to uploading other forms of media onto the social networking site. In fact, uploading video to LinkedIn is easy enough that anybody who has already uploaded the pictures or their slideshows will be able to figure it out simply by looking at the interface. The video upload feature is most powerful because of the potential it holds for users whose profession involves public speaking, giving seminars or for users that have a particular product to offer for which they have already created a marketing video.

By uploading a video, users can make it accessible to their entire network and make sure that they get the maximum value out of the video marketing materials that they paid for. This feature should find itself being heavily used by people who want to advertise the services of the corporation for which they work and by users who are trying to get out there and market themselves as consultants.

Compared to Other Services

While there are already plenty of other video sharing services available on the web, having this capability on LinkedIn have some advantages that those services do not offer. For instance, because LinkedIn is a professional site and because the people who use it are largely doing so because they want to expose themselves to the world in a way that emphasizes what they can do, you’ll be dealing with a more professional audience. Compare this to YouTube where your video may end up with inappropriate comments that reflect badly upon your business or upon your offerings. Of course, on LinkedIn you can control who actually sees the video by restricting it to your network, so you can be sure that you’re not going to end up with random people, or competitors, deliberately sabotaging your video in the comments section as they potentially could on regular video sharing sites.

There’s quite a bit of potential with this new offering from LinkedIn and it will no doubt be put to use for posting commercials and other advertising materials very quickly. Those businesses that want to show off their more personal side, however, can also put the service to use as a way to connect with their network in a less formal way. Given the thrust of the social network and the potential of video to make a very lasting impression, this could be a very powerful tool for many different types of businesses and the various entrepreneurs on LinkedIn.

Have you uploaded a video to LinkedIn?

Twitter has become one of the most widely used tools for social networking and, increasingly, for business. Users of the Macintosh OS will find that they have a new feature that they may find very useful if they rely upon the service a great deal. Twitter, through this feature, allows you to send an update to all of your followers from anywhere without having to log into the service itself. It works as a simple alt menu function.

The Function

Using this service, you can send a tweet from anywhere within the OS environment. For example, if you happen to be working on the Safari browser and find something interesting that you would like to tweet to your followers, you can simply highlight it, click on it and select the option to tweet. This can vastly cut down on the amount of time it takes to send information to your followers and encourages more use of the system.

This functionality will be expanded so that it can be used on any Apple device. This means that users of these systems will be able to very easily send whatever information they want to their followers and makes it much easier for them to share information on the fly. Of course, if you happen to be a business user, you can easily send anything you want to the people that follow your business when you are offering a special deal on goods or services or when you just want to make sure that your business is in their minds.

Other Features

Twitter also introduced a follow button that allows users to instantly sign up to be a follower of a webpage. If you happen to be a business user, this is a very easy way for you to encourage your visitors to follow you without requiring them to take the extra step of finding and following your profile on Twitter. These buttons are added in the same way that any other social networking icons added to your site and make it very easy to expand the possibilities for communication with the people with whom you do business.

Twitter has also introduced an application for mobile browsers that makes it easier to use the service on the go. Much like other applications, it reformats the service in a way that is much easier to read on the smaller screens of mobile devices and which doesn’t require users to try to click tiny links on a small screen.

With all of these new features, the Twitter service is enabling users to employ it in more flexible ways and to ensure that they get the most out of the service if they’re using it for business. Adding the social networking icons styled button to your website is a great way to pick up new followers and using the mobile application is an excellent way to keep in touch with them when you are on the go and when you want to send them a quick tweet to keep them apprised of new offerings.

Photo by webtreats

By now, you have observed the phenomenon that is social media. Social media has surpassed Internet communication and has become an online resource all its own. Face Book now has over 300 million users, while LinkedIn has 55 million professionals networking around the world. You know of social media…now the question is: should you play social media manager and start your own social media campaign?

It is far too easy to say yes, and encourage new company owners to embark upon a half-hearted social media experiment, just so they can say they are part of the trend. However, creating a social media campaign requires investment not only in money but also in time. The only way you can justify social media expense is if you can observe the benefits and identify the purpose of your campaign.

Why Should a Business Use Social Media Websites?

Running a social media campaign is not just about setting up an account and filling out a profile. A social media manager is actively involved in a company’s online marketing and oversees status updates, features, profile information, links and numerous other details because it is all part of one important project.

What are the most obvious advantages of social media campaigning? Social media is a great opportunity to subtly build brand awareness and brand trust, to keep your customers updated as to new company news, to interact with your public, to promote goodwill, to find new leads and to survey a portion of your audience.

What company wouldn’t benefit in these areas? Social media is well worth the investment, provided the company can find a competent social media manager and devote the proper amount of time to running the page. A company that invests in social media shows itself to be attentive to its online audience, smart to new technology, and actively involved in cheap and easy advertising. In many cases, your prospective leads will be more interested in how you conduct yourself as a company in the public eye rather than with how you “sell” your website on a homepage.

The Proper Approach for a Social Media Manager

The person in charge of running your social media pages should have a strategy in mind as he or she begins setting up profiles and posting updates. Part of running a successful social media site involves avoiding the most obvious mistakes. Do not bother creating a social media profile or page if you haven’t the slightest idea what to say. Make an effort to separate your personal and professional pages, so that you can represent your brand with dignity.

A social media manager is wise to the beneficial effects that social media networking can bring. However, before starting a campaign it is wise to identify your marketing goals, not just online, but as a company moving forward into the new age. The only way to calculate return on time investment is to compare your goals and your company’s progress.

More than a few people have suggested that social media sites are like the “phone books” of the modern age. Social media is where people go to learn information and the first rule of business is that you must go where people go. How can you justify not showing your brand and establishing your name in such a crowded location?

You could take it even further by saying that social media marketing is like the fusion of a phone book listing and a television advertisement. The necessity of social media is obvious. Now you should ask: what are you as a social media manager willing to do to make your social media campaign successful?

“Social media is no longer a distraction from your job but part of your job. Companies go to great lengths to hire social media managers to keep the company culture strong. Find out why business needs social media!”

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If you are new to the idea of social media marketing then it’s important to start with a refresher course on the most important websites making names for themselves and how you, as a business owner or perhaps even a social media manager, can use these online tools to your advantage.

Firstly, do not copy and paste your profile information and status updates to every major website. You must create a strategy in which you use each social media website for a unique and relevant purpose. It’s better to not use a website at all than it is to create duplicate social media pages. Why is this? Because (a) search engines typically penalize web pages that feature duplicate content and (b) you’re communicating with the same audience saying the same thing.

Successful social media managers suggest that you strategize and decide upon a special purpose for each website that you decide to incorporate into your campaign. Let’s consider the four most important websites and effective ways to use them for business.

Face Book/Fan Page: Face Book allows business owners to create either a personal or business page. If the owner chooses to incorporate a personal page into business, he or she will be allowed more options than using a strictly business profile. At this point, the owner can create a fan page or business page and serve as an administrator of the page. He or she will then have the ability to add friends and perform standard Face Book features that are not available with a business page. Face Book can be used for business in the way of advertising new products, services or discounts, as well as sharing multimedia images. Face Book is also ideal for networking, as users can view friends of friends.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a professional website helping people to expand their network of friends and acquaintances. Unlike Face Book and MySpace, LinkedIn promotes a business first attitude. Features here include people finders, job listings and questions and answers. LinkedIn can be used to increase your visibility, connect with more companies and users, enhance your search rankings (since LinkedIn is web searchable) and perform company reference checks. Some people love LinkedIn because it allows them to “stalk” interviewers and potential employers, or potential employees on the management side. LinkedIn also uses keywords to its advantage, making networking much easier even for newcomers.

Twitter: Twitter limits all of your links and statements to 140 words. Twitter is ideal for sharing status updates, connecting with important people, answering questions, providing insight into the daily experience, and searching for relevant keywords to your business. There are also many valuable web tools like Who Should I Follow and Summize, which give you further advantages in searching.

MySpace: MySpace operates similarly to Face Book but with many more options in the way of formatting the page, creating a unique theme and lending you more web space. MySpace is popular among younger users and is the preferred social media site for web-savvy merchants and entertainers who want to focus more on visual spectacle.

Blogging: WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr and SquareSpace are among the most popular blog sites online. Practically every popular social media site has limitations on how long posts can be, thereby giving the advantage to blog sites when it comes to full features and long commentaries. However, full-length blogs are among the most effective tools you can use for establishing professional credibility and targeting new leads with keywords.

All of these popular websites are being used to promote businesses and encourage interaction with the large online community. Have you signed up and filled out your profiles? More importantly, have you devised a short-term and long-term strategy as to your goals and objectives in each particular social media site? This attention to detail could spell the difference between success and an embarrassing waste of time ala PeopleofWalMart.com. Keep your social media page positive, welcoming and above all else, interesting!

“You have heard about social media, but you may not be familiar with how the idea works and what websites are the most valuable to pursue. Learn about the top social media sites and how you can use them for business.”

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So you have the product of a lifetime which you can’t wait to advertise to the masses. People will love it and will scramble over themselves to buy it you say? You’ve even made sure that they will have nothing to complain about when they use it? Great! However, how can you figure out their reaction to your service/product if you’re the only one doing all the talking?

So you have the product of a lifetime which you can’t wait to advertise to the masses. People will love it and will scramble over themselves to buy it you say? You’ve even made sure that they will have nothing to complain about when they use it? Great! However, how can you figure out their reaction to your service/product if you’re the only one doing all the talking?Have you ever wondered what your customers actually think of your business? You should because believe it or not, online customer testimonials and reviews actually have a hand in influencing almost 40.9% of their purchase decision! This can mean only one thing: customers NEED to see testimonials before they decide to purchase anything from your site. You can ensure that happens by using:

A Feedback button

This is a very simple but effective way to encourage online users to provide an evaluation for your services. Framing them as ‘suggestions’, phrases or ‘reviews’ can help entice them into giving you that much needed feedback. Plus adding this button to other forms on your site can help maintain a solid marketing system for your business.

In-Product Feedback

Those crucial pearls of wisdom can also be ensured if you decide to include a feedback form within your product itself. If they’re using the product at the time then it can give you invaluable insight regarding both their opinion and the flaws or qualities of your product. You can do this by using a button that takes the user to the form in question or an automated pop-up reminder asking for a review.

Use E-mail to lure them

If you’re an impatient individual on the other hand, you can decide to take the initiative by providing users with a live reminder asking them for their experience. An automated email can do the trick. You can even limit the responses by selecting users that fit your niche market and invite them personally to give their feedback.

Provide Incentives

Let’s face it. Very few people can willingly take the time to give you their views if there is nothing in it for them. You can use this fact for your advantage by providing attractive incentives if they decide to do so. For instance offering discount coupons or offering a FREE product for their feedback can help. You can also offer a free trial of the product/service you’re offering or a discount on the very product they’re considering.

Surveys and Questionnaires

This is one of the most popular forms of feedback mediums on the internet today for a reason! That’s because most people can’t help answering questions they happen to come across no matter if they have the time or not. Getting a detailed survey answered can help you iron out the flaws and inconsistencies in both your products as well as your marketing plan.

What have you tried in your business to get feedback?

Photo by EURO RSCG 4D Bulgaria

Now that you have a social media campaign set up, what can you do as a social media manager to ensure your huge popularity? Obviously, you are not going to make much of an impact if you merely set up a fan page and provide a few updates. What does it take to make noise and start a “raving” social network?

Basic Tips on Starting an Exciting Social Network

First, you must connect to important people within your industry. Focus on interacting with people that can help you whether they are at the “top” or “bottom” of your online society. Reach out and connect to people who are popular; this is one of the best ways to increase your online popularity when you have none of your own.

Take a lesson from guerilla marketing and use your imagination to build anticipation before your actual site launch. You can post comments about your launch on other blogs or on your other websites. Make sure you have enthusiasm as you write about what project you are working on. This builds anticipation, letting people know that something exciting is soon to happen. You could also use foreshadowing messages to arouse curiosity, or perhaps to address a problem that your company (or social media site) will address.

You can also strategically devise messages and blogs, centering on a theme that culminates in the launch of your social media site and or new product line. For instance, you could post status updates alluding to features your social media site will have, or whet everyone’s appetite by saying on a friend’s blog that you will post a more detailed commentary (replying on the primary issue) at your new social media site.

Do not expect to get a huge reaction from your own social media site if you haven’t already been active at other pages, leaving comments, asking questions and engaging in discussions amongst your peers. A sure-fire way to get a huge social media reaction is to join the community before you launch the business page, just as an individual. As you grow in membership, remember to get feedback from your friends as to how to improve the site.

Social Media Tips That Get Big Results

If you really want a big reaction from the online community then you have to provide some sort of incentive—something that creates a need or at least an intense want in your audience. The online audience responds to incentives that are not helpful but problem solving. This is why many social media managers focus on providing high quality and industry-appropriate content; the type of subject matter that teaches followers an important lesson from which they can benefit. True incentive in this respect would be, not merely reposting common knowledge, but perhaps linking to an interview with an established professional or an eBook of specific information. Everyone responds to savings and gifts. However, are you truly giving something of value to your audience?

If you are promoting a contest giveaway or other discounts, are you publicizing the contest and allowing enough time for people to spread the word? If you are asking for members to sign up (or join your friends list) are you providing them incentives beyond average, giving them reason to seek out official membership?

Keep your page clean and easy to read with plenty of multimedia content. Lastly, offer to help promote your friends and acquaintances at your new social media site. All of the insanely popular and “raving” social network pages offer special incentive, freedom of expression, wondrous entertainment and the latest industry news. Make these four points priority and watch your social networking page bloom!

Photo by 10ch

Guest Post by James Adams

Bloggers like to think that they are a completely different species of journalists. After all, very few bloggers had to earn or even apply for their positions. This means that they also tend to shy away from the use of traditional journalism techniques. Writing styles vary from blog to blog and even between posts. One thing that bloggers cannot afford to ignore is the power of a strongly developed headline.

For centuries, traditional journalists have worked to develop artful headlines that capture the attention of readers in just a few seconds, making them want to read the article that follows. In the age of the internet, the purpose of headlines hasn’t changed. It makes sense that regardless of the type of media, someone writing a journalistic piece would want to follow the techniques that are already proven to work.

Here are 5 headline writing Lessons from print media that every blogger should be considering in order to be successful.

1.) Keep Headlines Short:
Print journalists are required to use short headlines of ten words or less for most publications because there is a limited amount of space in which to print the headline. The internet is limitless, right? This doesn’t mean your headline should be.

Content consumers are used to traditional journalism and whether they realize it or not, they are looking for a style that is familiar whether they are reading blog posts or magazine articles. They make certain allowances for blog posts, but a long title will get you less attention than a short and concise one.

In addition to the length of the headline, consider the words that you are using as well. Small words stick in your readers mind. Active words stick out more than passive words. Choose your words carefully when crafting your next headline.

If you want to take a look at how you can write short headlines, consider the option of checking out Twitter. Tweets are limited to 140 characters, but there are some people who have mastered the art of getting their point across with even less than that.

2.) Write Headlines with Purpose:
If your headline is misleading or it does not give readers a true sense of what your post is about, they will make a note. When you write a headline, you should use it to tell readers how to react to the content they are about to read. Do you want them to learn something? Do you want them to take some action? You have the power to set their expectations before you write a single word of your post, just by using a short headline with a call to action.

3.) Use Numbers in Your Headlines:
The most effective tool in headline writing is using a number. Seeing a number in a headline will indicate to readers that what follows will be a list. A list means digestible content and it means quick reading. Read over your posts once you write them and see if you can get a number into your headline one way or another.

4.) Watch Magazine covers:
Magazine cover editors are masters at developing catchy headlines that grab the attention of millions of people every week. If these headlines didn’t catch people’s attention, the magazine would not sell nearly as many copies. Often, the actual title of the article will be different from the one on the cover, but the cover headline caught their attention enough to get them turning pages.

5.) Ask a Question:
The easiest way to get someone’s attention is to ask them a question. Just think about how you act in a conversation that is starting to lag. You ask a question of the other person and let the conversation build up based upon their answer. When you are writing a headline, keep this in mind. If you can raise an interesting question to your readers, they will look to your post for answers. Sometimes, they will answer the question and then read the blog post to figure out if there is another perspective they could consider.

Hopefully, these five ideas for crafting the perfect headline will get you thinking about how you can use them to grab your readers’ attention quickly and get them coming back for more. There are many blogs out there, and when you want to stand out among the rest, you have just a few seconds to get people to come to your site. Be provocative in your headlines and you will see that readers really cannot resist checking out what you have to say.

James writes about media and advertising on the CreativeCloud. For more of his writing, click here.

photo credit: roboxley

Facebook, probably the most famous social media website today, has recently added some new features to its platform. Many have not noticed these features yet, but they are extremely important to use, especially if you use Facebook for business purposes. So without wasting any time, let’s get onto what these features are…

Advertisement accounts can now be accessed by multiple users:
Previously it was quite frustrating for advertisers to know that their advertising accounts can only be accessed by one person at a time. However, this restriction has now been removed. Of course, if you are a small brand, this feature won’t be of high importance to you; but for bigger brands, it sure is. With this change, you can now give admin access to your teams as well. They can monitor results and share the information with others as well. That is a really good feature that can help advertising teams on Facebook to garner better results!

The all-new rating system:
This is another important feature Facebook has recently announced. This is a valuable function to those running retail businesses on Facebook.  Previously, your friends or people in your list were only able to ‘Like’ your brand page, but now they can even rate it. They can also add reviews so that others can view it. Facebook has integrated a five-star rating framework that allows your friends to rate your page. This means that you can now get to know whether all the people in your list are actually the ones who like your brand or not.

Questions on Facebook:
Facebook has announced a new feature known as Facebook Questions. Right now, this feature is not available for everyone. However, once it gets in the public’s hands, it will prove to be a revolutionary feature. Users will be capable of crowd-sourcing solutions to their concerns just like Yahoo and LinkedIn users. For instance, if you run a brand page on Facebook, you will be able to ask your members what they feel about your brand, etc. This feature will act as a survey which you can run within your Facebook profile. This will be a beneficial feature for businesses on Facebook but we have to wait for it for now.

Multiple posts can receive threaded comments:
This is particularly a very useful feature, and the good news is that it is already in effect. For instance, 20 of friends post the same link again and again on your profile, it will aggregate as one single thread and all the comments regarding the post will be summed up at once place. This means that if you are spreading the word about your brand and you are leaving posts on the walls of your friends, you won’t need to check out their comments separately. All their comments will be present at one place.

Are all these new features good?
Well, you can’t really say whether these features will be interesting for the masses or not, but they sure look promising right now.

photo credit: FindYourSearch