Are Hash Tags The New Mentions?

The #Hashtag is a powerful marketing tool thanks to Twitter. Their purpose is to categorize a Tweet or now, an Instagram or Facebook post. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.

  When you use a #Hashtag you are entering a world of users around a topic, not just communicating to one person. Sure, people want individual attention, but there is significant importance when you communicate to a group of users that are all interested in and discussing the same topic.

Let me explain how the #Hashtag works:

1. Write a tweet: Ex. Eva Longoria’s dress was beyond gorgeous.

2. Placing The #Hashtag: You can place them at the end of the tweet, which is most popular, or if you need to save space, next to a word in the tweet or post that would be a #Hashtag. The rule is not to over use it and be repetitive. 

3.What to #Hashtag: Look at the topics and buzzwords. In this case, Eva Longoria is a celebrity, so she would be good to #Hashtag and I would do #Grammy’s because that is what I was referring to and it’s a big event that will most likely be trending.

Speaking of trending, another thing to know is that #Hashtags become trends.  On Twitter, to the left of the screen there are the trends of #Hashtags and when you click on one, or search one in the search bar, you get a whole host of tweets that use that #Hashtag. If you can get a #Hashtag with the name of your company or product trending, that’s huge. It will make you recognizable on a global scale.

#Hashtag #Socialbflycon #Blogpost #SMM

"What iPad Should I Buy?"

At least once a week someone asks me about iPads. My clients wants to know which one is better, the difference between the models, how to set one up, and how to use it in general. Some even want to know what the point is in having one. That said, the most important question that I receive is, “What iPad should I buy?”

The first thing that you have to know is that iPads aren’t one-size-fits-all. There’s a reason why Apple has made so many different models. Yes, the more updated, the better, but even if you can afford the newest models there are plenty of decisions to be made such size, gigabytes, wi-fi or no wi-fi, and so on. 

To end your frustration, let me walk you through how to make the right decision for you.

1.       The Screen: Do you want the small screen of the iPad Mini or do you want the big screen of the iPad 2? Do you want the clarity and speed of an iPad with Retina Display or does it not matter to you? If you want something that can fit in your bag, is light weight, and you have good eyes, then there is no reason not to get the iPad Mini. Unless, you need the gig space.

2.       The Space: How many gigs do you really need? Do you plan on putting all of your music and videos on the device? Do you want to read ebooks? Are you intending on working on your iPad instead of on your laptop? Are you hoping that your iPad will replace your main computer? Are you an app maniac? If you didn’t say yes to all or the majority of those questions then get a 16GB. It will fit enough data to sync peacefully with your iPhone (assuming you have one.) Just remember, the more gigs you use, the slower your device, so you may want to aim for  slightly more gigs than you expected. If you said yes to all of the above, consider one of the full sized models.  

3.       Wi-Fi, 3G, and Cellular: At this point, you have another decision to make. If you want to be able to use your iPad anywhere you go, then a model with Wi-Fi and 3G is essential.

4.       The Color: You would be amazed at how difficult this decision is, but make sure that you can live with it. It sounds silly, but the color of your iPad is something that you and others will notice. If you intend to buy a cool case, then it may not be important. However, if you’re considering matching your iPad and iPhone colors, think hard.

At the end of the day, it may be worth hanging out at the Apple Store for an hour or so and playing with all the different models until you make your decision.

Let Your Freedible Flag Fly

 Freedible.com is a brand new food start up that is fighting for a cause; this July 4^th they’re launching a new campaign to declare your independence from food restrictions. This new social network is specifically designed for all of us who are restricted from food because of allergies, or because we feel better when leaving certain foods out of our diets. The network is a unique and fun way to connect with others who share similar food concerns, needs, habits, and desires. Their clever motto, "because food is not one-size-fits-all," speaks to me and I'm sure that it speaks to many of you.

 Here's how it works:

1. Navigate to the site. Open an account - use Facebook if you can because it makes the login super easy.

2. Set up your profile: With the help of the organized tabs, simply locate your profile towards the top right and editing is a click away. Write a short bio before selecting one or more of the food restrictions you have, be it dairy, nuts, gluten, top 8 allergens, vegetarianism, etc. If you fill this out by the end of this month you get entered to win a grand prize!

3. Have fun using the site! It features a community cookbook where you can search recipes for some 50 different restrictions, getting started guides, and a custom blogs directory to help you find ones that are relevant to the way you eat. Specifically learn how to handle these restrictions for kids and adults. You can read their lists of food ingredients to watch out for or explore their delicious recipes. Don't forget about their "TableTalk" discussion forums to share conversation with people who might have different diets, but face similar issues, as well as their numerous affinity groups to communicate with individuals who share your specific issue or dietary needs. Finally, if and when you're ready to share a meal, you can use the recipes search to find a meal that all your guests can eat.

On the 4th, Americans gather to eat, watch fireworks and celebrate our freedom, which is why Freedible, Inc. is the perfect subject for this holiday post.

Instagram’s Instant Success Continues

Instagram is the smartphone app that allows anyone with a creative spirit to become a professional photographer and NOW videographer. That’s right, they have made the next move to compete with newcomer Vine and maybe even Snapchat, on a more serious level. If the new filters and 15 seconds of steady filming capability don’t sell you, then I don’t know what will.

Let me explain why every tech writer, photographer, and social media marketer is talking about the app as if it just came out.

1.     Fun and Professional Photos in Seconds-With a quick tapping motion and a few swipes of exciting filter choices, you can take a photo of anything imaginable and not only change the look, but claim it as art.

2.     Sharing Is Caring-Share your work of genius on Instagram, sure, but also Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, and email. Your photo or video can go viral in a flash; pun intended.

3.     Commentary and Praise-You’ve heard the cliché of every artist hating their own work, but I think that it’s harder when everyone is liking, hash tagging, mentioning, and commenting on your posts. There’s a special feeling you get when you see those little hearts next to your user name.

4.     Branding-For companies, Instagram is a goldmine. Both companies and consumers can boast about your brands products and services for free. Hey, those filters can make anything look good.

5.     Video-As of the past few days, you can turn your amateur smartphone videos into a comparable Spielberg.

If it’s not clear as to why Instagram is the photo-bomb, maybe you should clean your tiny lens. Doesn’t it make the fading of the digital camera a bit less scary?

Be Fancy With Foursquare

 

Foursquare is an under utilized social network. The app itself is free, unless you want to become an official business, which has its perks. Let me explain.

 

Foursquare is a social network where the goal is letting everyone know where you are at all times. Now, that freaks out A LOT of people. There may be some risks, but there are way more benefits.

Here is an article that gives three of the best reasons to use Foursquare smartly.

 

 Still not convinced? Ask a Foursquare mayor; I’m one of many. Seriously, it’s time to get yourself on the map. I know - I’m there.

I Tweet, You Tweet, We All Tweet

Twitter has rapidly become one of the most powerful social networks of all time. In fact, over 288 million people use the site and app actively and all of them are consumers in one way or another. They are on there because it's trendy and they are looking for all things, people, and services that are trendy too. It's obvious why all the brands and companies would want to be on there. 

Here's what you need to know; setting up is the easiest part of Twitter. Open an account using a Twitter handle (your user name) that makes sense.  Put up your logo or icon. Then write a super short, interesting, and engaging bio. The last step is to upload a custom background and the image 
surrounding your profile picture. 

Managing your Twitter is a labor of love. Make sure that you're following the right people, meaning your target audience and competitors. You want to communicate using quick and short quips, visuals, links to articles, hash tags, mentions, and retweets in order to gain followers. Twitter feeds are in "real time," which means that once you post it's gone along with the millions of others. As a result, you will need to be tweeting frequently. But remember, it's worth it - the early bird catches the worm. 

Facebook: You Need to “Like” The Basics

 

 

 

For some of you, this post may seem redundant, but there are plenty of people who don’t know how to use Facebook for their business. As a result, we are going to go back to the basics.

 

What Is Facebook?

 

Facebook is the mother of all social networks. It’s not a mystery why they have the funds necessary to buy up every other company that might be seen as competition. Mark Zuckerberg figured out that people want to communicate with other like minded people. Facebook allows you to reach current and potential customers  from all over the world by interacting via a profile, group, or business page.

 

What’s The Difference?

 

Your profile is a virtual version of yourself. People use it to connect with friends and family, but you would use it to show off your professional knowledge and expertise. Upload a photo that makes you look personable and post interesting and helpful information, articles, videos, and more that will make others want to interact with you. The goal is to get as many “friends” as possible.

 

Groups allow for other Facebook users to have an open discussion about a topic, product, or company. You can invite everyone in the group to events, settle disputes, learn about your customer needs, and more.

 

A business page is your biggest ally. The focus is on the company;  its mission, its services and products, and so on. This is where you will show off your company and interact with as many people as possible. The goal is to get as many “likes” as possible.

 

How To Set It Up

 

Setting up a Facebook account has never been easier. Start by opening an account with an email address and password. Once that’s done, you can fill out a profile with information on yourself that will put showcase you as an expert in your field. Afterwards, set up your business page to promote your company. It’s a lot like data entry, but you have to be strategic. Don’t forget to review the numerous privacy settings, but I wouldn’t suggest blocking the world from your profile and page because it will be much harder to get exposure.

 

Get on Facebook, “friend”, “like”, and prosper.