Social Media Marketing Know-How

Search engine optimization has not been dependent on a minimal number of factors for a long time now, such as number of times a keyword appeared on a page, and it continues to become a more complex web of on and off-page factors every month. One of the more recent factors that has had an impact on search ranking is social media.

This infographic breaks down ways that social media influences the visibility of your website in search results, including:

• Social media can help search engines find and index your content faster
•  Likes, shares, retweets, etc. indicates to search engine that content is new and interesting, often leading to a temporary increase in rankings
• Your content will increase in search results for people connected to you
• Increases domain authority and the number of inbound links to your website

Via Lauren Moss

Via Robin Good

It is hard to believe that in a digital world where people are so connected, it still seems to be completely difficult for businesses to use that to their advantage to more efficiently maximize their ROI. Companies continue to spend on banner ads instead of on the people who can really make a difference in the way people purchase.

This infographic should help researchers and advertisers see what great potential there is in the power of social media and general online influence. Bloggers, tweeters, and Facebook champions really can be wise investments; read more at the article link.

Via Lauren Moss

Excerpted from article by Search Engine Watch:

"Looking for a nice selection of SEO power tools that will help diagnose technical issues and optimize your website, or perhaps gain insight on what your competition is doing? Below are 13 SEO tools (many of them free) to do just that.

 

Even if you have little to no budget, you will still able to get the job done with this selection of search marketing power tools.

 

1. Your Eyes
2. IIS SEO Toolkit
3. Screaming Frog
4. Majestic SEO
5. Adobe Site Catalyst
6. Google Analytics
7. SEMrush
8. Google Webmaster Tools
9. Bing Webmaster Tools
10. SEO Tool Set
11. Google Trends
12. HitWise
13. You Get Signal."

Each tool is analyzed with more information and external links.
Read full article here:
http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2199683/13-Essential-SEO-Power-Tools

Via Giuseppe Mauriello

Surprisingly I see much written about social media marketing: spreading brand awareness, reaching target groups, pushing out promotions, even efficient customer service. But one thing that is seldom discussed is the use of social media by sales professionals.

And why not? After all, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ are just communications channels. They serve the same purpose as the telephone, networking conferences or even the front door of a prospective customer. Despite all the high-tech hype, social media is just another way for a sales person to contact and then interact with potential buyers. Here are five reasons why you should consider incorporating social media into your sales process:

1. It beats cold calling. Cold calling is the traditional technique for hungry, driven sales people. But the effectiveness of this brute force technique is drastically declining. A recent study by Baylor University’s Center for Research found that for every for every 330 cold calls, only one appointment resulted. Social media allows for a gradual, more comfortable warming than a jarring cold call. Rather than knocking on a prospect’s door as a stranger, you can pass in the street, say hello, engage in conversation and gradually win the comfort and trust of the prospect.
2. You will have an edge over your competitors. According to a recent Harvard Business School survey, only 12% of companies are including the sales team in social media planning. That means that you can have a distinct edge over competing company sales reps as you listen and respond to questions and requests over social media channels.
3. You get to be a fly on the wall. Everyone is using social media: your customers, your prospects, even your competitors. And they are constantly talking, about what they like, and what is a huge hassle. All that chatter is real information… and much more efficient than eavesdropping on a few conversations at a networking event.
4. You have a better chance of being at the right place at the right time. With social media you get to be right where your prospects are, listening to what matters most to them. When a prospect complains via social media, they are far more likely to engage with a salesperson who responds to that frustration rather than a cold call product pitch.
5. You can influence early (rather than defend later) in the buying process. Today, buyers spend far more time researching and moving through the buying process before they engage vendors. Much of the buyer’s journey leverages social media. Social selling allows sales people to engage buyers much earlier in their journey. You get to help shape the solution to the problem rather than being forced to respond as just another “vendor” later in the sales process – where you are evaluated largely on price.

Via Brian Yanish - MarketingHits.com

This infographic provides a visual guide and a brief synopsis of different uses for Twitter.

It includes information about how Twitter can be used as a tool for information, customer service, networking, business management and website management.

Via Lauren Moss

The tech world is mystified and frightened by teens. At the same time, tech companies are desperately catering to them, knowing that teens will shape the industry's future. 

In a recent report from BI Intelligence, we analyze how teens and their mobile-first habits threaten to upend the tech industry.

Via Brian Yanish - MarketingHits.com

Here in the US, the Dow recently tumbled almost 150 points in a “flash crash” caused by widespread digital panic. What was the cause of this panic? Twitter.

Via gdecugis

There are many reasons we use social media. From the basic to the more advanced, the tool is simply ubiquitous and addictive. This infographic sheds some light for us all.

Via Gust MEES