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How To Maximize Twitter Chats (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Wed, 30 May 2012 09:00:01 PDT

Yesterday, we gave you a lowdown on Twitter chats and how it can be beneficial for your brand or business. Today, we are following up with some tips from the folks over at Social Media Examiner.

Make sure your social media agency or your Internet marketing expert gets to read this!

1. Understand the whole process. Before asking your Internet marketing expert to create your own Twitter chat, learn the ropes by following or perhaps even participating in some Twitter chats within your own industry. You can use Twebevent. It is a tool for tracking upcoming Twitter chats and it will help you get a feel of how it works.

2. Come up with a plan. Once you and your Internet marketing expert have the background, the next crucial step is setting things up. First, think about the hash tag. The hash tag is where it all starts and once you have one, it is difficult to change it so think hard and be strategic about it. It should be unique and it should have no negative associations. The hash tag should also be easy to type, easy to remember and therefore concise. Avoid double letters and symbols. Once that is done, ask your Internet marketing expert to arrange the day and time for your Twitter chats. Avoid sharing a similar schedule with a similar topic. One way to do this is to have a time table of all related or well-known Twitter chats so you can better manage your own.

3. Enlist powerful people as moderators. By powerful we mean influential and reliable people. It is your (or your Internet marketing expert’s) responsibility to welcome new members, keep the discussion focused, promote it regularly especially among the new members and to summarize the discussion at key points during the chat. Having moderators helps you touch base with your community and gives you a better idea of how you should conduct your chat sessions.

4. Announce and promote your Twitter chats. You can have your Internet marketing expert create a short static reference page or ask your followers and brand ambassadors to promote it for you. The idea here is to use whatever medium is available and relevant for spreading the news about your Twitter chats.

We know we’ve only scratched the surface. Have you got any ideas? Share it with us!

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How To Maximize Twitter Chats

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Tue, 29 May 2012 09:00:11 PDT

Chatting on Twitter is a great way to grow your fans and followers, tighten your community and of course, promote your brand or business. Why would you or your social media agency not want to try it?

Today, we are going to introduce you to exciting world of chatting via Twitter.

But first off: what is Twitter chats?

Your social media agency might have shown you this before. It is a public Twitter conversation revolving around one unique hash tag. With this hash tag, you can follow and participate in the discussion. It usually recurs on specific topics so those who are in on it are regularly connected.

What are its benefits?

For starters, it’s a great way to boost your social media presence particularly your Twitter following. One hash tag and you’ve got hundreds of people talking about your business and your brand. That’s social media heaven for you and your social media agency right there. Twitter chats are also helpful for beefing up the community supporting your business. It’s like a social media habit—they anticipate a good debate or conversation with fellow followers and they are bound together by one common factor—your brand or your business. This can help you and your Internet marketing services team to build your own group of loyal brand ambassadors. And if you’ve learned anything from our Internet marketing tips, you’d know that having brand ambassadors is a very effective way to push your business especially in the social media battle field.

Another great thing about Twitter chats is how it gives you and your social media agency instant feedback. Twitter chats provide a gold mine of social media research that other companies spend thousands of dollars on because they do not see the opportunity. Ask a question and you’ll get an answer. That’s how simple it is. (Of course, building the relationship is a slow and steady process.)

Tomorrow, we’ll jump in on the tips when using Twitter chats so make sure you and your social media agency will check that out.

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Exploring Google+ Hangouts

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Mon, 28 May 2012 09:00:00 PDT

What can you do with Google+'s Hangouts?

A lot of things actually. Here is an idea from the folks at Social Media Examiner.

Maybe you and your social media agency can learn a tip or two. After all, it's free and hey, it's Google!

A history of marketing

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:00:06 PDT

Any Internet marketing expert should know their history. Does your own expert do?

If not, now is the time to catch up with some visual help from the folks at Hubspot. Remember, knowing about the past can help you make better and informed decisions for the future so scroll down and read on.

The History of Marketing From HubSpot

Much ado about mobile marketing

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:00:04 PDT

Among the Internet marketing services today, mobile marketing is one of the fastest rising stars. Do you know your mobile marketing? Are you updated on the goings on in the ever dynamic mobile landscape?

Here is an infographic, courtesy of Hubspot, to help keep you on your toes.

How Mobile Is Being Used in 2012 From Milagro Mobile Marketing

Creating Shareable Photos on Pinterest

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Wed, 23 May 2012 09:00:00 PDT

Pinterest is a fast rising social media star and it’s a platform that you or your Internet marketing service provider should definitely consider. But it’s not just about sharing photos. It’s about strategically posting shareable photos that will strengthen your brand image and eventually generate sales for your business.

All this sounds way easier in theory but in practice, it is challenging to stand out in a sea full of millions of diverse images.

So, how do you or your Internet marketing services provider create a meaningful Pinterest board? The folks at Social Media Examiner have some ideas to share.

1. Your picture should convey a clear message. This line is a bit used up but it is true and effective: a picture is worth a thousand words. So don’t feel limited by the fact that it’s all about the pictures. Of course, it helps a lot to have a catchy caption so don’t rush through it. Sit down with your Internet marketing service team and plan out your Pinterest content. Always remember the golden rule: compelling picture equals compelling message.

2 2. Reach outside the box. Do not feel that Pinterest is not for you just because your business is not “image-centric.” The overall principle behind social media (and even Internet marketing services in general) is the sharing of relevant content whether it’s a blog post or an album of photos. At the end of the day, you are talking to people with families, friends and interests so reach out to them via that route. Do a little research. Look at your customers’ pin boards and find out what they like. Observation is always a good first step to take especially when exploring new social media landscape.

3 3. Promote contests and giveaways. Posting a clear image of the prize at stake is a sure fire way to entice people to participate in your promotion. Pinterest even lets you add a banner in the upper left-hand corner for indicating the prize amount. You can also ask your readers to create boards that incorporate your keywords in the descriptions and have them repin these in your boards. It’s a clever way to use Pinterest for your contest and for generating buzz too!

Did you like these Pinterest ideas? Come back tomorrow for more Internet marketing service tips!

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The Facebook “Like” button is not an effective measure of success

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:00:05 PDT

It’s a shocking statement that even the supposed best Internet marketing company in the industry today would gasp at.

But it is a fact, according to a BizReport article which reveals that a recent research showed how a millenial’s “Like” on Facebook is not tantamount to brand loyalty. If anything, a “Like” is just the beginning of an online relationship. The same research showed that 69% of those who “Liked” a Facebook page “rarely or never” returned. Only 1% visited a brand page daily, 14% weekly and 15% monthly.

According to Dr Tina McCorkindale who is an assistant professor of communications at Appalachian State University, millenials are best kept in an online relationship through “a delicate balance of rewards, information and samples.” Even incentives, when overdone, can overwhelm the fickle millennial and prompt him to exit.

The BizReport article further noted that 42% have left a Facebook group or fan page—a figure that continues to be a challenge for many social media agencies and even for those who claim to be the best Internet marketing company today.

Here are other key figures to ponder:

- 86% visit Facebook everyday

- Millennials use Facebook to "Stalk, creep, check, browse" other people's profiles.

- Millennials are constantly updating their statuses and timelines, playing games and keeping in touch with family and friends.

- 75% of millennials "Like" organizations, 45% "Like" products, and 48% accept friend requests from organizations

- 2/3 of millennials discovered a Facebook group via suggestions from friends

- Only 22% actively searched for a group

Of course, this does not mean that less effort should be exerted when targeting millenials. On the contrary, it poses a challenge to online retailers and their marketers to come up with clever ways to capture this market.

And it also necessitates more in-depth research to further analyze the level of brand involvement for different kinds of millenials.

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Pinterest proves its worth

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:25:19 PDT

If your Internet marketing expert hasn’t signed you up for Pinterest yet, then this piece of news should be more than enough motivation for them to do so.

According to the Internet Retailer, 32% of online shoppers have made a purchase based on what they’ve seen on the newbie social network. That’s nearly 1/3 of all Pinterest visitors. This figure comes from a survey done by Bizrate Insights. The report is based on a survey of more than 3,700 online shoppers in late March.

What does this tell you and your Internet marketing expert?

It tells you to doubt no more and believe in Pinterest. It’s not just a fast-growing social media site. It is also proving its worth as a driver of sales.

But Pinterest, while dominant in the image-sharing site game, is not alone. Other sites that your social media agency or your Internet marketing expert might want to watch out for include Polyvore and Juxtapost.

Responsys research director Chad White was quoted saying that “Pinterest is made for visual browsing and finding things you like.” This explains why users are looking to this hot, new pinboard-style social sharing site for visual inspiration when online shopping.

The same Internet Retailer report also noted that the percentage of large online retailers focusing on Pinterest as part of their marketing strategy has grown to 24% in March. Some experts say that it may even topple YouTube as the number three social network promoted in retailers’ marketing e-mails because it is easier to weave it in being relatively younger in the social media business.

Does this mean that if the nature of your business is not visual then Pinterest is not for you? Your Internet marketing expert will tell you that while it should not be your priority, you should not completely ignore it either. Visual appeal is for everyone and there are many ways to capitalize on it especially with Pinterest.

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PPC Management Tips: Controlled Ad Testing

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:18:08 PDT

For PPC management experts, ad testing is a paramount task that helps consistently convert sales or leads. A real PPC management expert would tell you that ad testing is not just part of a strategy, it should have a strategy in itself. Otherwise, conversions, quality scores and overall performance can get into the dreaded danger zone.

If you’ve had slim success margins in the past, it would be hard to tolerate ad testing and growing on a large-scale basis. But of course, this does not mean that you stop ad testing altogether. Like we said, ad testing is a PPC management essential.

So, what do you do?

Here are some expert tips from the folks over at PPC Hero.

1. Do not test every ad group at the same time. Come up with a schedule wherein ad testing is done methodically and yet your other campaigns and ad groups are able to perform. In this way, you are protected from large-scale performance decreases during the testing phases.

2 2. Test one new ad at a time and while you are at it, create copy of your control ad. Run both copy and the original at the same time. This PPC management tip is ideal for campaigns with tight margins because it gives more protection for your current performance while at the same time, resetting the history of the control. Simply put, this technique adds another layer of control to your ad testing. Your PPC management expert might also suggest AdWords Campaign Experiments (ACE) which can help you set your control splits and moderate traffic to your experimental ad copy.

Ad testing is a real test of PPC management. Make sure to think about how it may affect your campaigns and ad groups. If you find that you cannot support short-term losses, adjust your strategy and develop a plan that will let you do the tests while the ad performers support with consistent performance in the process.

Good luck!

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Three Free Tools To Measure Social Success

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:10:27 PDT

Do you know if your social media campaigns are successful or not? Does your social media agency use a specific tool to measure the outcome of your social efforts?

Knowing if your social media campaign is a hit or a miss requires more than just a quick look at your number of fans and followers. You and your social media agency need to understand the elements that caused the success or failure of a campaign.

Thankfully, this is not so difficult to do, thanks to these three free tools as shared by the folks at Social Media Examiner.

1. Event Tracking. This free tool gives you or your social media agency a report on the behavior of your site’s visitors by tracking some of the actions they do online. For instance, it can track the number of times a video on your site is played or how many times a file has been downloaded. This function can help your social media agency answer key questions like: Are my social media buttons accessible? Is my website content effective? With information from Event Tracking, you can find out how your site visitors interact with your brand online and what you can do to improve social plug-ins or buttons.

2 2. Google URL Builder. This tool allows you or your social media agency to see which tweet or Facebook post generated the most number of quality clicks. How is this kind of information valuable? It helps you better construct social media messages for future promotions and determine which kind of tweet or post captures best the attention of more people. Ask your social media agency to help you get started on Google URL Builder. Make sure though that your website has access to Google Analytics.

3 3. Google Analytics Alerts. This tool keeps you posted regarding the success of your promotion. Your social media agency will find this very helpful especially if you are running several promotions at once. Once again, this presumes that you are on Google Analytics so if you aren’t, call your social media agency to help you get started.

Come back tomorrow for more social media tips!

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Mobile ad spending will soar

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:00:09 PDT

Here’s something that will test the foresight of even the so-called best Internet marketing company.

According to a fearless forecast done by BIA/Kelsey – a media research and consulting firm – more money will be spent on mobile ads in the coming years than ever before. In 2011, $784 million was spent on mobile ads with a local focus. A staggering amount indeed, yet the firm predict that there will be a 539% increase from this number amounting to $5.01 billion by 2016.

The statistics may be overwhelming yet they are somewhat expected. Judging by the number of consumers consulting their mobile phones for what seems to be anything under the sun; it’s understandable how media companies will stop at nothing to answer their needs. Studies have shown that searchers who use their mobile phone are after local businesses – a bookstore, a coffee shop or a nice pair of heels – in their vicinity. By 2016 mobile searches will completely overtake desktop searches by the hundreds of millions.

If you’re still not convinced, here are some more numbers to ponder on, divided into the 4 formats used in mobile advertising:

· In 2011, local paid search ad spending was at $390 million; by 2016 it will appreciate to $3.21 billion.

· In 2011, local display ad spending peak was at $299 million; by 2016, it will reach $1.32 million.

· In 2011, local text ad spending hit $81million; by 2016 BIA/Kelsey predicts it will be around $182 million.

· And last but not the least, local video ad spending was at $14 million in 2011 but it’s estimated to reach $292 billion in 2016.

If you’re still reading this article after all those numbers we’ve given, then you’ve probably figured out the simple point we’re making: jump on the mobile ad bandwagon. Think about this too: In the next five years, smart phones will most probably be as common as today’s ordinary mobile; hence more consumers will have access to mobile ads. Now would the perfect time to start thinking about the steps you need to take to optimize your local mobile ad campaign and visualize where you see your business in 2016.

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PPC Management Tips: Nurturing Your Account

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:00:06 PDT

When you’ve been into PPC management for a while, you may begin to see an account for its entirety.

However, you may also forget the impact micro changes can have on your account. If you’re managing more than one campaign, it may become difficult to make several small changes in each account that guarantees maximum optimization.

Simply put, bookending is guesstimating – meaning you’ve put in all the numbers and came up with a numerical basis for making the change to your account. PPC management experts recommend this method rather than changing one variable at a time hoping you’ll somehow hit the PPC jackpot. Bookending is best done after bid changes.

Here’s a step by step guide for you and your PPC management expert.

1 . Download all keyword data.

2 . On your spreadsheet next to your ‘Max CPC’ column, create a “%change” and a “new max cpc” column.

3 . Enter the change you’d like to make in the ‘%change’ column. For example enter 8%, -5% or 10.5%.

4 . Next, enter this formula in the ‘new max cpc’ column : (old max xpx*%change) + old max cpc

5 . Create new columns and name them after variables you want to change in the account. For example: “New Cost”, “New Revenue” or “New Conversions”. Use the same formula in Step 4 and sum everything up (new and old) at the bottom.

6 . Look at the old and new totals. You should be able to get an idea on how much impact your desired bid changes will have. You can take it further by dividing the data by the number of days you pulled it for to get on day’s worth of data. Then multiply that by 30 or 31 to see what the impact the changes will have for the next month.

You can use the following tips from our PPC management experts to know how much traffic you’ll get with new keywords:

. Upload your keywords into the Google Traffic Estimator.

2 . You can fill out all the necessary data using your numbers but you’ll have to guesstimate the conversion rate based on your account or the product you’re trying to sell.

3 . Use this formula Spend / CPC *Conversion Rate = Leads to figure out cost/conversion.

4 . You can now use bookending to project your keyword data.

Once you’ve learned the ropes, bookending can make your PPC management life a whole lot easier. It provides a means to test out your management theories without having to put your account in any danger. It’s just a matter of changing variables until you produce desirable enough statistics to actually make a change in your account. Try it today!

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The marriage of e-mail and mobile technology

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:06 PDT

In a study done by Knotice, they found that from among 974 million e-mails in the US, 27% are opened using mobile devices. This is a 7% increase in just a span of one quarter in a year.

This figure is another testament to the growing significance of mobile technology in planning out an Internet marketing campaign. Any Internet marketing expert knows that e-mail is not dead. If anything, e-mail marketing is a crucial complement to a social media plan or to any other kind of online marketing campaign. And with the advent of mobile and powerful gadgets, a formidable tandem is born. A “weakness” of e-mail marketing has been effectively crossed out. Before, one could only read from a laptop or a PC. Today, however, with a smartphone or a tablet, marketing messages are also mobile.

The study further found that iOS (hello, iPhone and iPad) devices are commonly used for mobile activity. It accounts for 22% of the activity compared to the 5% for Android-run devices.

Note: This should be a guideline for any e-commerce merchant or Internet marketing expert. Consumer preference for mobile gadgets affects the message itself.

However, the BizReport article noted that while mobile e-mail touchdown is on the rise, click activity does not necessarily come with it. This is due to the lack of mobile optimization which makes it hard for users to do more with the message other than read it.

Another research showed that 84% of UK companies failed to design e-mails for viewing on a mobile gadget and more than a quarter do not test campaigns across different kinds of mobile devices.

This, despite the fact that mobile optimization has been established to critically affect conversion.

Are your marketing messages, especially your e-mail blasts, optimized for mobile consumption?

Maybe now is a good time to call your Internet marketing expert.

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Ad prices on Facebook are up

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:00:07 PDT

Here is a reminder of the reality side of social media marketing aka the financial side that you wish your Internet marketing service provider had less of to share with you.

According to an Internet Retailer report, Facebook ad prices soared to 41% despite the steady stream of ad spots on the world’s most popular social networking site. The report is outsourced from TBG Digital which is Facebook’s advertising firm.

The average cost per click or CPC moved up to 23% over the fourth quarter of 2011. Due to the growing demand for ad spots on Facebook, the cost per thousand impressions (CPM) is 41% higher versus the same period last year. More hard facts that will give you and your Internet marketing services provider more

Facebook facts to mull over: CPMs rose 15% in Quarter 1 alone and 23% of these impressions are from retailer ads.

The report noted that Facebook, at the end of the day, really just wants to keep all Internet marketers under one roof—their roof that is. That is why for marketers who ads click through to another place on Facebook, the social media giant charges a 45% lower CPC.

Interestingly, the report also noted that Facebook is earning more money per impression or click even though the number of ads visible per page has increased from six to seven earlier this year.

What does this mean for you and your Internet marketing service provider?

For starters, it makes Facebook ads more expensive and the “Likes” more valuable. Depending on the nature of your company or product, it is always a good idea to look at your other social media options.

Besides, the average click through rate has declined 8% in the US despite the rising cost of a Facebook ad.

This could be attributed to the increased number of ads which gives more options to customer, thus reducing the chances of an ad getting a click.

But should you or your Internet marketing services team ditch Facebook altogether?

Of course not. Despite the steep price tag of a Facebook ad, it’s still an investment worth taking.

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New Google+ Changes You Should Pay Attention To

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:00:03 PDT

Keeping you and your social media agency updated is one of the sure fire ways to stay on top of the game. In online marketing, the competition is tough so vigilance is a key attribute of any social media agency worth their salt.

And speaking of updates, here are new Google+ changes that will certainly affect the way you do Internet marketing on Google’s social media site. Thanks to the folks at Social Media Examiner for the heads up!

And make sure your social media agency reads this!

1. The header image and profile photo are now given more prominent spaces. You can either choose to have a photo strip or choose just one header photo. If you choose the latter, make sure the image is 940 x 180 pixels in either JPEG or PNG formats. Make sure your photo does not look grainy. You don’t want a grainy first impression, do you? You can also use the new header to showcase a featured product, highlight a fan or customer of the week or put a call to action so people will learn more about your business.

2. You can now customize your navigation for business use. The new Google+ allows you and your social media agency to choose the two circles that are most important to you and put them at the top of your navigation. These two circles are crucial choices so choose wisely. These can help you keep a tab on what your customers are posting and who they are interacting with. Make sure to consistently engage the people on these chosen circles.

3. Trending topics are now featured on the right-hand sidebar of the home screen. This is a cue for you and your social media agency to capitalize on the latest trending topics by posting about the topics that Google+ members are talking about. Remember that while not every trending topic will be relevant to you and to your business, sharing a helpful comment or tip can get you noticed and circled. So don’t spam. Know when to jump in on a conversation. You can also ask your social media agency to monitor your circle counts to see if talking about trending topics helps you get into more circles.

We’d love to know your own Google+ tips so do share!

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Three e-mail marketing mistakes to avoid

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:00:03 PDT

It’s a common mistake even the most veteran Internet marketing service providers commit. They think that just because e-mail is an experienced marketing format, there is no way to mess it up when used for marketing.

Maybe e-mail itself is stable but marketers—that’s a whole different story. And we all know what happens when Internet marketing service providers make mistakes. Hard-built relationships and conversion dollars can get affected.

As an entrepreneur, you should not rely on your Internet marketing services team to do everything for you.

Here are three mistakes to watch out for. Read on and learn.

1. Blasting a single message to all contacts. This is really quite elementary. Different strokes for different folks. If your brand has more than one product, it is vital to do research and find out which customer is best suited for a particular product or service. Your Internet marketing services team should be able to help you find out what they like and then that’s when you target them with relevant messaging.

2 2. Not segmenting e-mail lists. This is pretty much like the first mistake. Remember: buyers have different needs, wants and capabilities. For B2B marketers, this means that a corporate CEO will certainly have different needs from a small to medium entrepreneur.

3. Not adapting to the difference of each type of Internet marketing. Online, it’s all about adapting to the landscape. So now, it means resorting to social media and using video tools. The best way to find out which Internet marketing service is best for your brand or your business is to test different message types, content and offers. Don’t rush into a trend. Research before you adapt.

Despite taking a backseat in the past years, e-mail marketing is experiencing renewed interest. It complements the prominence of social media and it is, after all, a tried and tested marketing tool.

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Online reviews get more credibility

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:00:07 PDT

It turns out even the best Internet marketing company cannot guarantee a brand or company’s credibility.

According to a report from the Internet Retailer, a new Nielsen Global Trust in Advertising Survey revealed that 70% of global consumers trust online reviews when making purchase decisions. In addition, 92% of these consumers said that they trust advertisements passed on by relatives and friends.

The survey gathered the opinion of 28,000 consumers from 56 countries.

Despite the growth and popularity of mobile technology, text ads on mobile gadgets proved to be the least trustworthy.

Here are more interesting global figures and data from the survey:

- Middle Eastern and African consumers are the most trusting of mobile ads.

· - Since 2009, the percentage of consumers who trust television, magazine and newspaper ads have steadily declined.

· - However, advertising costs on mainstream channels have continued to increase by 7% between 2010 and 2011.

· - Internet ad spending increased 24% at about the same time

· - Some experts forecast that mobile ad spending will by 47%.

· - Half of the respondents trust e-mail marketing messages especially if they signed up for it.

· - 36% of the respondents said that they trust ads on social networks.

· - 40% of the respondents trust paid search ads

· - European consumers have the lowest level of trust for all ad formats except online reviews which garnered 64% of the trust of the European respondents.

The results of this study are tell-tale signs of the unstoppable growth and dominance of online and digital marketing. Interestingly, it also reiterates a staple feature of marketing—the high value consumers place on recommendation, especially when given by a fellow consumer.

This also reiterates the need to strengthen and diversify efforts to engage and build loyalty among customers.

The best brand ambassador, after all, is the satisfied and happy consumer.

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PPC Management Tips: Account Goal Setting

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:09:00 PDT

Goal setting in PPC management can be quite challenging especially at first. Starting fresh is well... refreshing but in PPC, it also means that there is no historical data to work with. What works for other accounts might not necessarily work for this new one. So it’s back to trial and error again which can eat up a lot of time, not to mention resources.

The question of the day is: How do you set new goals in PPC management? What data can you use as reference? Where do you begin?

Sometimes, even so-called PPC management experts falter at cases like this.

But fear not.

The folks at PPC Hero have some PPC management tips to share on dealing with new accounts. Here are three questions that can help you get to the right answers.

1. What trends can I immediately identify? For example, are there monthly dips in performance that indicate seasonality issues? What is your record of click-through rates over the past year? What about your conversion rates? Do not just focus on the clicks. Using answers to these questions, you now have a reference when reviewing your account’s history. Usually, you can start with the aspects of your account that has been underperforming. These should be the first priorities when setting your PPC management goals. And remember: start conservatively and reasonably.

2 2. How is my average metrics? As mentioned earlier, reviewing past performance can help you make changes or optimizations that are reasonable. Drastic swings in PPC management are just that—drastic. Working on a new account is often really tedious at first but if you take a snapshot of all your monthly metrics, it will be easier for you as you go along.

3 3. How do my ads look? Pinpoint the general messaging, visual handle and call-to-actions of your account in the past year. Afterward, find out which one has been most successful. Is there any type of ad testing that was implemented? For example, if the general messaging leading to the call-to-action is somewhat weak, then perhaps you can start testing new ad copies that are stronger and more compelling. Another question worth asking: how many ads are running in each group? Part of the whole PPC management process is to determine whether you need to narrow down the number of ads or run more of the type that best serves your account.

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How to use Twitter for your customer service efforts

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Sat, 05 May 2012 09:00:08 PDT

Yesterday, we shared with you tips on how to build a more meaningful Twitter following. Today, it’s another Twitter day because we are going to share customer service effort tips on the world’s most popular microblogging site.

Twitter can be both a bane and a boon for you and your Internet marketing expert. It makes talking (or complaining, in some cases) about your brand and your services easier. It also gives you more and new ways to engage your customers—potential and existing alike.

What makes Twitter a great customer care tool?

It’s instant. So if you or your Internet marketing expert says the right thing, you can instantly deliver great value, great service and gain great feedback. Of course, this is easier in theory than in practice. So here are three guidelines for you and your social media agency or your Internet marketing expert when harnessing the power of Twitter for customer service.

1 1. Take advantage of its speed. The quicker you can respond, the better. Whether it’s a query, a complaint or a positive feedback, promptness always goes a long way. This entails a lot of time, effort and dedication. And for some, devoting such investment to Twitter does not seem like a sound idea. But if your main market is online, manning your Twitter account should be a top priority for you.

2 2. Personalize the whole Twitter experience. Your Twitter efforts should replicate face-to-face interaction. It should be personalized, it should be sincere and it should be professional. If your Internet marketing expert handles your account, remind them to always end tweets with your name (first name only). It makes a whole lot of difference especially in terms of building a connection.

3 3. Strategically use direct messages. Here’s the scenario: You and your Internet marketing expert are facing a major social media crisis. Your customers are flooding you with angry, anxious tweets. Instead of tweeting your official response one by one, explain your case in one public tweet. And then send individual direct messages to those who tweeted. This way, you won’t clutter your stream and each customer who tweeted will feel that their issue is treated with special attention.

Got your own Twitter customer service tips? Do share!

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How to build a meaningful Twitter following

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Fri, 04 May 2012 09:00:06 PDT

Even your social media agency will tell you that it does help to have a strong following on Twitter. But never for a second think that Twitter is just a numbers game. One of the biggest mistakes you or your social media agency can commit on this microblogging site is to abuse the “free” nature of Twitter. Another mistake is to think that signing up for an account will guarantee a boost in your marketing campaign. Even for sending 140-word messages, a strategy is required.

One such strategy is to choose quality over quantity. In other words, you and your social media agency should strive to build a meaningful Twitter following. How do you do this? The folks at Social Media Examiner shared some expert tips and we’re passing them on to you.

1. Find and follow the people that matter. To entice people to follow you, make sure to build a strong profile. Present yourself in a professional and an engaging way. You can ask your social media agency for creative tips to maximize the 160 characters allowed for your bio. Don’t forget to include your location. A lot of business boils down to local engagement. And of course, having a professional photo can work wonders. So say cheese and smile!

2. Tweet interesting things. Even your social media agency will agree with this: it’s easier said than done. What’s interesting for one group may be boring to others. How do you source out the generally pleasing and acceptable topics? You can start by subscribing to Google alerts. Or you can post photos and videos as these are proven to engage audience faster. But don’t just post random photos. Make sure it is related to your business. For example, if you are in the fashion jewelry business, model some of your wares. It’ll generate more comments and feedback from your audience.

3 3. Talk. If you are not going to engage them, what’s the use of being on Twitter? You don’t have to know someone to be able to follow back. Check out your followers’ conversation and see if you or your social media agency can find a way to carefully jump in. Better yet, start your own conversation. Utilize the power of a hash tag.

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Google+ Apps and Tools To Enhance Your Marketing Strategy

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:00:00 PDT

So it’s settled.

Google+ is a crucial aspect of your Internet marketing campaign. (Make sure your Internet marketing expert maintains your account.) It’s easy for things to get competitive online so today, we are giving you apps and tools that will gain for you a head start on utilizing Google+ for your marketing strategy.

Ready? Call your Internet marketing expert now because here we go!

1 1. Google+ Widgets. Widgets let you promote your Google+ business account on your company site. Try Widgetsplus.com. It displays your latest posts and +1s on your website plus it links back directly your Google+ profile or page. It also allows you to specify a width and a length for your Google+ widget. You can also ask your Internet marketing expert to try gplusapi.appspot.com. This widget allows you to specify the number of page posts to display among other customization options.

2 2. Google+ Statistics. Social Statistics is a tool dedicated to Google+ data. With it, you can collate top 100 people on the social network, top pages and even top posts. You can also sort it based on the most comments, +1s or shares. What can you do with statistics? A lot! You can use it to measure the results of your own campaigns, discover who is currently trending and eventually, refine your Google+ campaign. Social Statistics is a gold mine of data for your Internet marketing expert.

Another tool your Internet marketing expert will surely love is Simply Measured. It offers free Google+ report on any Google+ page. And the report is pretty thorough too! It includes engagement rate by post type, page activity for the last two weeks, overall page engagement, comment keyword analysis and even the list of top users commenting on your Google+ page. This report can be easily exported to Excel or PowerPoint for easier presentation. And it also makes competitor analysis reports a whole lot easier.

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Young consumers are digital natives

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:00:04 PDT

Even the best Internet marketing company will definitely find today’s generation of young consumers a challenge. They know what they want and yet they are fickle. And according to a new study called “A Biometric Day in the Life” by Time Warner’s Time Inc. and Innerscope Research, young consumers or digital natives as they are called, switch between media platforms every two minutes.

Two minutes. Wow.

Meanwhile, digital immigrants, or those who grew up with “older media” like print, TV and radio, switch media platforms around 17 times per non-working hour. The digital natives, on the other hand, are bombarded with choices—TV, magazines, smartphones, tablet devices, and of course, Internet. That is why they tend to switch at least 27 times per hour or at least once every two minutes.

The study further revealed that digital natives are rarely more than an arm’s length away from their gadgets so this makes media switching more convenient. Just look at your teenage children to verify this data.

More figures: over two-thirds of those who were surveyed take their devices with them from room to room while at home as compared to 41% of digital immigrants. More than half (54%) of digital natives prefer to text people rather than talk to them as compared to the 28% of digital immigrants who would do the same.

The article from BizReport further suggests that it could be harder for marketers to keep up with the new generation of consumers because they “snack” on content instead of immersing in it. Therefore, given the way young people consume media, the creative bar for witty and effective advertising has been raised.

And it’s a challenge for all online marketers, even for those who claim to be the best Internet marketing company in the industry today.

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PPC Management Tips: How To Fail

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:00:04 PDT

Today, we are deviating from our usual PPC management tips and we are borrowing knowledge from PPC Hero on how to fail in PPC.

Yes, fail.

Knowing what you can do wrong can help you and your PPC management team avoid these mistakes.

PPC, despite being more “exact” than other forms of Internet marketing (notably social media), is not always predictable. Here are four common PPC management mistakes and misconceptions to avoid.

1. Lose perspective. This easily happens especially if you or your PPC management expert is handling and switching between two accounts. The advice here really is to be conscious and to keep track of your bids. In PPC management, even the smallest error can be costly.

2. Over-optimize. Too much of anything is bad for you, even optimization. Sometimes, an anomaly in our accounts can cause us to overdo the whole process. This is a familiar scenario. You miss out on your goal and you start to pull all the levers in your PPC account. Bids, ads, keywords—you want to change everything until you get the results that you want to see. This may seem good at first but it usually is too much. Instead of band aid PPC management solutions, sit down, analyze and come up with two to three major changes.

3 3. Look at too small a window. By window, we are referring to time frames. If you or your PPC management team always focus on what happened yesterday or what is happening today or moving up the results tomorrow, then you are most likely in for a vicious cycle. Save yourself from the stress of it all. Focus on longer-term goals and longer term timelines. Everyday does not have to be a perfect day for PPC management. Sometimes, you need to sacrifice the results today for a more stable and better structure, strategy and results in the long run.

4 4. Set the wrong goals. CPA and CPL are the top PPC metrics but they are not always the best. You can have a great CPA but you can also be driving the wrong kind of sales. Or you can have a great CPL but none of the leads translate to sales. So what are the right goals? Well, it’s up to you and your PPC management expert to find out. It could revolve around ROAS, value per visit or even cost per sale. Sometimes, a little gut feel is needed to navigate the world of PPC.

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Facebook will buy Instagram

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:36:58 PDT

Time for another social-media-landscape-changing Internet marketing news for you and your Internet marketing service provider.

Social media giant Facebook has agreed to make its biggest acquisition so far—photo-sharing mobile app Instagram. The Palo Alto, California-based social networking site is paying roughly $1 billion in cash and Facebook shares.

According to the news report from Internet Retailer, this industry-shaking transaction is expected to close later this quarter. For the uninitiated, Instagram is a lot like a social network because users can share and view photos with friends and comment and “Like” their connections’ photos. The report adds that Facebook is planning to keep Instagram independent of Facebook.

How will this movement affect the way we do Internet marketing services?

It’s still too early to tell.

But according to Facebook head honcho Mark Zuckerberg, the acquisition of Instagram will help Facebook “offer the best experiences for sharing beautiful mobile photos with people.” According to a digital advertising analyst, this move is likely aimed at making Facebook more appealing on mobile devices especially smartphones. The social network has rolled out mobile ads but it still has a lot of room for improvement. Another analyst described the move as both “offensive and defensive.” Offensive in that gives Facebook a headway into mobile marketing and defensive because it kept Instagram out of top competitors Twitter and Google.

Among the current Internet marketing services, mobile marketing offers a lot of potential so it is easy to understand why Facebook would want to strengthen its niche in that area. Instagram was earlier valued at $500 million but owing to its widespread brand recognition, the $1 billion purchase price is justifiable. Facebook added that it will “work with Instagram’s teams to foster the app’s growth.”

The report further noted that the Instagram acquisition might just be the beginning. If Facebook moves forward with its IPO in spring, then it will have more funds for more acquisitions. For e-commerce merchants and Internet marketing service providers, this news only serves to remind us that the Facebook domination of the online marketing landscape will prevail.

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Going Beyond Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Giselle Macalalad) — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:30:24 PDT

Anyone can blog but not everyone can become a powerful blogger.

You’ve probably heard your social media agency tell you this: a blog is not just a journal. It is a powerful social media marketing tool which can be a game changer for you and your business.

Today, we are sharing with you four tips from the experts over at Social Media Examiner. Time to call your social media agency and find out how you can go beyond blogging and transform your blog into a powerful online publication.

1. Find out the interests of your audience. When you know what your readers want, it is easier for you and your social media agency to craft shareable posts. How do you find out what your audience wants? It’s really simple. All you have to do is ask. Ask your social media agency to create a simple survey using tools like SurveyMonkey. The results are a gold mine of content.

2. Spin popular topics into several posts. Once you have a database of popular subjects, create several versions of content discussing those subjects. For example, you can start with a beginner’s guide followed by a post on addressing biggest misconceptions. You can also come up with a success stories series. You can even ask your social media agency to create a video. With creativity and resourcefulness, you can get a lot of mileage from just one subject especially if it is a really popular topic.

3. Have multiple contributors writing for your blog. Treat your blog like an online publication. Or like a magazine. Have you ever read a magazine with just one author? The same concept should apply to your blog. Having multiple authors gives your blog fresh voices and new spins on topics. It also gives your blog more prominence because it’s not just about you. Ask your social media agency to help you establish alliances with contributing authors so you don’t have to do all the work.

4. Capture e-mails. At the end of the day, it’s still a business so take care of your repeat visitors. Use the power of e-mail! E-mail sign-up forms are ideal for encouraging people to come back to you. Incorporate multiple calls to action for e-mail sign-up in various places in your blog. A solid e-mail base will also help you and your social media agency create a loyal following.

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