Online Marketing News: Facebook IPO: Worth $104 Billion, Google Penguin & Panda Party Crash, G+ Ghost Town
Posted on 18. May, 2012 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing
Top 250 Internet Retailers
Social networking for retailers makes sense right? Make your brand visible where your consumers are spending the most time. This infographic from Campalyst shares information on one of the things that helps makes retailers successful online, a social presence. Key findings include:
- Number of followers by social platform
- How success on social networks is distributed
- The most followed industries on specific social channels
Featured Team Member Story
Mike Yanke – Who Will Win the War of the Sidebars?
While Google made headlines this week with the launch of its Knowledge Graph (ie a new sidebar element designed provide facts the search giant has amassed on people, places and things), emerging force Bing made its own announcement last week with a platform relaunch, complete with a social sidebar. So what sidebar format will most engage users – a vast collection of knowledge on people, places or things you may never see – or a vast collection of facts on people, places and things you may see every day? Check out Search Engine Land for more on both Bing’s social sidebar and Google’s Knowledge Graph.
This Week in Online Marketing News
Facebook IPO Could Place Its Value at $104 Billion
The social network priced its shares at $38 apiece, valuing the company at $104 billion. The average first-day “pop” for a technology company is 32 percent; if Facebook follows that trend, it’ll be worth $137 billion by day’s end. Via Bloomberg.
Who Invited Penguin & Panda to the Party?
Google’s new penguin update has many organizations confused, frustrated, and angry. It seems that many sites have seen a sudden drop in traffic, and are blaming “Penguin” and “Panda” for the decline. This article covers the importance of knowing which update affected your traffic as well as tips for gaining some of your traffic back. Via Yoast.
57% of Facebook users Never Click Ads
Facebook’s public offering has generated a lot of buzz and anticipation. However, the ineffectiveness of advertising and user distrust due to policy changes may stunt aggressive growth goals. Curious to know other results of this poll run by CNBC? Via MSNBC.
Is Google+ Becoming a Ghost Town?
This week Fast Company received exclusive insights into Google+. If it’s true that Google+ is the company’s “social spine” then they are in need of some serious adjustments. The picture painted by the data shows very weak user engagement, waning interest and minimal social activity. Via Fast Company.
9 Ways to Be An Expert, Without the Attitude
There is a fine line between providing valuable information, and the stigma that comes with being thought of as an expert. This article provides 9 helpful tips that you can share valuable information in an influential way without being perceived as a jerk. Via Brass Tack Thinking.
17 Steps to Becoming a Content Curator
Many people curate content without even thinking about what they are doing. Re-sharing an article from a friend or colleague, or collecting and sharing a series of blog posts on a particular topic. There are some very simple rules that you can follow to properly curate and share the information you find online. This guide from Econsultancy covers the basics to set you up for success. Via Econsultancy.
TopRank Team News
Kodi Osmond – Yahoo Debuts Big Data App Called “Genome” at Internet Week
Genome, over-simplified, refers to the biological information needed to build a living thing. If one thinks of data as capturing the behavior of a living thing, then data must be a “living thing”, too. Perhaps this was the logic used when Yahoo named its big data software, scheduled to release in July. Read more of Yahoo’s press release and what EVP of Americas Rich Riley had to say at Venture Beat.
Shawna Kenyon – What People really Want vs. What They Share on Social Media
Social media monitoring company NetBase published a year’s worth of its own data and compared it against a Harris poll to determine the gaps between what people say in social media updates compared to what they actually want. They found that in general people are ‘emotional sharers’ but in actuality tend to be quite logical when asked a direct question. This article poses an interesting comparison between men and woman within a number of categories. Via Mashable.
Roxanne Hagberg – Google Search Just 1,000 Times Smarter
(We all know that Google’s Knowledge Graph is big news this week. Our team found this change to be very important for our readers so we have included another review from Mashable)
Google taps into a variety of knowledge databases to roll out “Knowledge Graph”, the next generation of search. Knowledge Graph allows users to quickly narrow their search to find the most relevant results. Via Mashable.
Brian Larson – Saving Time in Google Analytics
I remember the first time I really, really dug into a Google Analytics (GA) profile. I logged into GA at noon and the next time I looked up it was time to go home. There’s no doubt that there’s a tremendous amount of valuable information in GA. There’s also no doubt that it can be easy to lose time data mining in this tool. Search Engine Watch’s Eric Stiu shares ‘7 Time Saving Google Analytics Custom Reports’. Via Search Engine Watch.
Time to Weigh In: Wow, this was a big week in SEO and social news. Google “Penguin” as well as their new “Knowledge Graph” are on the minds of many organizations. Has your company seen any significant decreases in traffic since this release? Do you believe that Google+ is a truly effective mechanism for engaging customers and clients socially? What updates would you recommend Google+ make to increase usability and engagement?
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© Online Marketing Blog, 2012. |
Online Marketing News: Facebook IPO: Worth $104 Billion, Google Penguin & Panda Party Crash, G+ Ghost Town | http://www.toprankblog.com
Online Marketing News: Take Action on Social Data, LinkedIn Gets the Scoop, Google Reigns Supreme, Google & Big Data for SEO
Posted on 11. May, 2012 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing
Actionable Social Analytics
This recent infographic by awareness takes a dive into social analytics. In an era where virtually every brand is online, it is essential that action is being taken off of the data we are collecting from social networks. This infographic provides not only some of the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) that your company should be tracking, but how to calculate these numbers as well. Examples of the KPI’s your company should be tracking:
- Brand Awareness & Reputation
- Marketing Program Effectiveness
- Lead Generation Effectiveness
Use LinkedIn to Get Juicy Industry Scoop
LinkedIn has proven to be a great recruiting mechanism and means of connecting business professionals. Many organizations are now using the social networking platform to gain insight into potential clients. Sounds a little bit like stalking to me, what do you think? Via Inc.
You’re Fired! Facebook “Likes” Gone Wrong
Should companies have a say in what their employees post on social networks on their own time? Can these posts or “likes” be grounds for termination? That is exactly what judges are trying to figure out based on two recent cases where employees claim they were fired for what their employers deemed inappropriate “likes” on Facebook. Via BtoB.
Google is King of the Mountain on Mobile
comScore’s Mobile Metrix report examines mobile media usage across different devices, applications, and web browsing. According to this report, Google is leading the pack by reaching over 98% of the U.S. mobile audience. Via TechCrunch.
Use Social Media to Target Existing Customers
Social media can be used in a variety of ways to target new and existing customers. Your team can take a customer centric approach which involves answering questions and solving issues. Additionally, social networks are a great way to offer loyalty programs which encourage repeat business. This article offers 5 great tips for using social media to target your current customers. Via Social Media Examiner.
Online Marketing News From the Top(Rank)
Shawna Kenyon – Facebook’s Stock Price in Context
Facebook is going public, well kind of. Last Thursday they announced the release of 337,415,352 shares to hit the marketplace, making Facebook one of the most valuable US Internet companies to date. But is Facebook really a good investment? How does the offering/pricing compare to its tech counterparts? Check out the Infographic in this article to see how Facebook stacks up. Via Mashable.
Brian Larson -‘Cannibalization’ Not Good For Fast Food…Or Any Other Business
To be clear, we’re talking the cannibalization of revenue. Fast food giant Wendy’s launched the ‘W’ burger last year and saw sales for the new product display consistent growth. So where’s the problem? Sales of the ‘W’ burger were rising while higher ticket items were dropping. In effect, Wendy’s had been successful in down selling their menu. Let this delicious example be a friendly reminder that just because you can launch a product doesn’t mean you should. Via AdvertisingAge.
Mike Yanke – Google Extends Search Results with ‘Sources’ Area
Extended information about movies, books, people and music will soon start populating the third column Google results as the search giant confirmed its ‘Sources’ experiment this week. Learn more about this experiment – and see some early screencaps – in this article posted by Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Land.
Kodi Osmond – Google, Big Data & What it Means for SEO
Big data – it’s exactly what it sounds like. Marketers have always been astutely aware of how gathering and analyzing customer data allows for relevant, impactful, and timely communications. Google, one of the grand poobahs of big data companies, has alluded to how big big data will be for the future of search. So is big data really the next big thing, and what big impact will it have on search marketers? Via Search Engine Watch.
Time to Weigh in: Has your company used LinkedIn to target customers in the past? If so what were your results? What is your policy or preference on employees and social media usage, both personal and professional? We look forward to your feedback on the news articles we found the most interesting this week. Have a great weekend.
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© Online Marketing Blog, 2012. |
Online Marketing News: Take Action on Social Data, LinkedIn Gets the Scoop, Google Reigns Supreme, Google & Big Data for SEO | http://www.toprankblog.com
Online Marketing News: Content Marketing World!, Google Goes Big Brother, Searcher Personas, Retro SERPs
Posted on 04. May, 2012 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, Content Marketing Institute, content marketing world, joe pulizzi, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing
Content Marketing World, We Found A Home
This recent video from Content Marketing Institute Founder Joe Pulizzi, provides some background into how Content Marketing World came to be. If you are big or small brand, B2B, B2C, or virtually any organization that creates content this conference is for you. Scheduled this year for Sept 4-6 in Columbus, Content Marketing World is now the largest content marketing conference in the world. TopRank is proud to be one of 4 exclusive media sponsors along with Copyblogger Media, Social Media Examiner and SmartBusiness Content Marketing.
Forget Big Brother – What About Giant Google?
Last week Google released its full FCC report which contained information about data collection from unsecured Wi-Fi connections. It appears that Google’s Street View cars were not only taking photos of streets, but were also intercepting email and SMS traffic. Read more to see what else Google has up their sleeve. Via Forbes.
Searcher Personas Driving Landing Page Design
Determining what drives your customers to purchase is invaluable information for any online marketer. Using searcher personas to determine what techniques to use for your landing pages will improve targeting and therefore your results. What motivates people to click? Read on to find out more. Via Search Engine Land.
Google Keeps It Real (Time)
Google News is getting an upgrade. Google will begin rolling out further integration between Google+ and Google News. Starting today Google News users will be able to see what their circles are covering and what they have to say about trending topics. Another new feature is a “realtime coverage page” which will surface Google+ comments and new articles as they become available. Via TechCrunch.
Enhance SEO with Author Avatars
Launched in June of 2011, Google’s authorship markup allows websites to connect individual authors to their posts across the web by adding a simple rel=author tag to their content. Google plans to use this information to help connect people with authors and ultimately their content. Via ClickZ.
5 Key Strategies for Building Your LinkedIn Network
With over 150 million members, LinkedIn is a valuable asset for business professionals. This article provides some seemingly simple but effective tips on sharing relevant and engaging information with your network. As well as tactics for continuing to grow your network on an ongoing basis. Via Social Media Examiner.
Tip Top TopRank(ing) Internet Marketing News
Brian Larson – Your Search Results Just Went Retro
Bell bottoms made a comeback, so why can’t a simplified SERP as well? Although Bing originally led the charge in creating a more customized (and busy) SERP, the search engine is simplifying its search results. Don’t expect anyone to copy the Alta Vista UI, but Greg Sterling of Search Engine Land shares what this retro look means for Bing searches. Via Search Engine Land.
Jolina Pettice – Segmenting Traffic Based of Value of Device
Search Marketers are used to segmenting traffic based on sources which are known to convert at higher rates. i.e. Search Engines vs Direct vs Referrals. However, we may need to add an additional layer onto this segment to account for the type of device the visitor is using. For example, are visitors from iPads more valuable in terms of time-on-site and conversion than a visitor from a different type of tablet or desktop. This may be a data piece to mine further, if your visitors are viewing your site from an array of devices. Via Search Engine Land.
Shawna Kenyon – How 7 Top Brands Are Using Facebok’s New Ad Tools
In 2012 Facebook previewed a slew of new ad products to people outside the industry, though to some these new initiatives might have appeared to be ‘old hat’, advertisers see them as anything but. Among the new products were Premium on Facebook, Reach Generator, Offers and Logged Out ads. These new advertising offers came as a way to showcase new products and services in more than a two dimensional way allowing for ads to reach all of a brands fans and designed to expose them to things they might not otherwise see. The article above showcases 7 big brands and how they are utilizing the new services. Via Mashable.
Time to Weigh In: What emphasis does your company place on developing customer personas? Do you consider an article in your Google search more credible if there is an author avatar attached? Is your company currently segmenting traffic? If so, based on what data points?
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© Online Marketing Blog, 2012. |
Online Marketing News: Content Marketing World!, Google Goes Big Brother, Searcher Personas, Retro SERPs | http://www.toprankblog.com
Online Marketing News: Mobile Shows Muscle, Google Panda to Penguin, Google Drive(s) Storage
Posted on 27. Apr, 2012 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing
Mighty Trends in Mobile Marketing
Every day we see mobile being used more and more for online shopping, local searches, email, social networking. And that is just scratching the surface. This infographic from CultureLabel.com provides insight into the astounding use of mobile for Internet searches, as well as why mobile friendly marketing should be an essential part of your online marketing strategy. Highlights include:
- 87% of the world’s population have mobile phones
- 300,000+ apps have been developed in only 3 years
- 74% of people use mobile at work
SEO SPAMMERS BEWARE! Google is On To You
Google’s recent webspam algorithm update (aka Penguin) released earlier this week is aimed at better filtering out spammy SEO tactics like: keyword stuffing, link schemes, cloaking, doorway” pages, etc. (Weren’t they already doing that?) Google’s official blog said “we also want the “good guys” making great sites for users, not just algorithms, to see their effort rewarded.” The Panda updated affected about 12% of search queries on Google. Penguin is estimated to affect 3%. What changes do you think google will make next? Via Google Webmaster Central Blog.
Google Launches Google Drive. All Your Files Are Belong to Us (what you say?)
The good news: Google launched a new cloud storage service that works with Google docs and syncs with your compter. You can upload and access all of your files, including videos, photos, Google Docs, PDFs, etc. Via Google Blog
The not so good news: “Google Drive Sparks Privacy Concerns Among Businesses” CIO Journal. “Google Drive Doesn’t Work with iPad, iPhone” GottaBe Mobile. “Google Drive says it may ‘publicly perform’ your files. What’s that mean?” Christian Science Monitor. “Your Google Drive Files Can End Up in Ads” Wired Cloudline.
Selecting Social Networks for Business: Not An Easy Task
In an effort to stay up on the latest business trends many organizations will jump on board for a social network simply because it is new or receiving a lot of exposure. However, how much does that sort of fly by night strategy costing these companies? It is essential that every company take the time to determine which networks are relevant for their type of business, as well as which networks their target customers are spending their time on. Via InformationWeek.
TopRank Online Marketing Team News
Jolina Pettice – 9 Tips to Develop a More Effective Internal Link Structure
The internal link structure of a website can be overlooked in the race to acquire inbound links. However, the link strategy on-site can be important in helping both search engines and users navigate the site.
From leveraging the most linked-to pages to understanding the information architecture and creating a link dashboard to help identify the impact of changes made on-site, this article is a great start to a more effective internal link strategy. Via Search Engine Watch.
Joe Manier – The Hierarchy of Web Presence Optimization
What aspects go into a holistic optimization strategy for your business’ online presence? Providing wonderful visuals from stage one of a website’s technical SEO foundation to the final stage of measuring and improving your efforts, here is a high-level blueprint for succeeding online. Via Search Engine Watch.
Mike Yanke – Swatted by Google Penguin? Here’s Some Advice
Google’s latest algorithm update, Google Penguin, went live this week – and as designed – swatted down several websites that swan – or fell – in the seas of black hat SEO. If you were one of those unlucky sites to be swatted down, what should you do? Start by reading this post, full of advice, from SearchEngineLand.
Sara Duane-Gladden – How the B2B Social Media Marketing Experience Differs from B2C
Want to know more about how your social media marketing experience and efforts stack up against others? Check out this blog post from the Social Media Examiner that offers insight from the 2012 Social Media Marketing Industry Report. About 1,900 B2B marketers contributed to the study. Via Social Media Examiner.
Brian Larson & Roxanne Hagberg – Your Webmaster Tool Belt Just Got Lighter
If you’re a fan of the Google Webmaster features robots.txt creation tool, subscriber stats or the site performance report, you might be interested to know that those tools are going bye-bye. Learn what other changes are in-store including the YSlow browser plugin or other Google tools such as Google Analytics and PageSpeed Online for Site Performance analysis and how that might impact your reporting in this post from Search Engine Land.
Time to Weigh In: Has your team considered adding a mobile marketing strategy to your online marketing mix? What process did you go through to determine which social networks were the right fit for your company? Do you think that Google’s new Penguin update will affect your search visibility?
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© Online Marketing Blog, 2012. |
Online Marketing News: Mobile Shows Muscle, Google Panda to Penguin, Google Drive(s) Storage | http://www.toprankblog.com
Online Marketing News: Maximize Facebook Timelines, Maximize Value Propositions, Drive Engagement
Posted on 20. Apr, 2012 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing, Social Media
That’s Old News! [Infographic]
This new infographic from Schools.com dives into social media and how it is quickly replacing traditional journalism as a widely used news source. Highlights:
- Facebook makes up 59.5% of news consumed online
- Since 2009, traffic to news sites from social media has increased by 57%
“5 Ways Businesses Are Using Facebook Timelines” New Facebook changes are opening the doors to even greater creativity for brands. Additional storytelling and education of customers can now take place via the social networking giant. Be sure to see this post for 5 awesome tips that you can apply to your organization’s Facebook page. Via Social Media Examiner.
“What You Can Learn from a Deal Gone Bad” Each lost sales opportunity is learning experience. Using that loss to determine what you could have done differently and how you could have better met the needs of your prospect are an invaluable education. Read on to find out what else your team should consider when a sales lead is lost. Via Inc.
“Marketing Research Chart: Top-rated tactics for developing value propositions that resonate and convert” Recent research by Marketing Sherpa found that 69% of B2B companies have a set of established value propositions that they believe differentiates them from their competition. This study shares what these marketers said were the most successful tactics for developing these value propositions that resulted in customer conversions. Via Marketing Sherpa.
“3 Social Community Strategies to Drive Innovation, Engagement, and Sales” Marketing is only successful if brands or organizations are collaborating with their fans and online communities. This post shares 3 great social media strategies that will position your company to engage more customers which will hopefully lead to more sales. Via ClickZ.
“5 Great Starting Points for a Content Recycling Program” Content creation can be an overwhelming task for companies of any size. However, there is some good news. Not all of your content has to be written completely from scratch. Take a stab at repurposing and mix and matching existing content to cut down on time and investment. Via Content Marketing Institute.
TopRank Breaking Team News
Sara Duane-Gladden: Crowd Riff Engages Social Fans, Especially at Events
With hundreds of millions of public Twitter streams, it can be difficult to make sense of all the chatter. Crowd Riff allows fans to connect with a brand’s site and view tweets about it in real time, without all the noise. It’s particularly useful for tracking tweets about an event. It also allows you to find your superfans by giving them a score based on what they tweet about your brand.
Via Media Bistro.
Mike Yanke: IAB & PwC: Search Still Tops Online Ad Revenues, and Share Grew in 2011
Search ad revenue continues to grow, per the latest data from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) in partnership with Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), as published by Search Engine Land. Per this report, search capture $14.8 billion in ad revenue for the full year 2011, spiking almost 27 percent from the $11.7 billion capture in 2010. Via Search Engine Land.
Jolina Pettice: Understanding the Pinterest Audience – Intro Guide for Marketers
Understanding the potential of Pinterest, begins with understanding the audience and how it does (or doesn’t) make sense to integration into your marketing mix. According to HitWise, the demographics on Pinterest break down into 3 categories:
- Boomers & Boomerangs
- Babies & Bliss
- Families Matter Most
Want to learn more about what these different categories mean? Read on! Via Search Engine Watch.
Brian Larson: Google AdWords Now Automatically Matches Misspellings & Variants
People misspell things. There’s no way around it…and search queries are no exception. Until now, savvy marketers have been accounting for misspellings and variations with their keywords. That’s now changed. Via Search Engine Land.
Shawna Kenyon: Facebook’s Analytics Tool for Ads Will Soon Measure Actions Other Than ‘Likes’
In a few weeks Facebook plans to introduce a new feature called “Action Measurement” that will appear as a column and pie chart in Facebook’s Ads Manager. The new feature will allow marketers to dive deeper into user engagement data and go beyond typical stats. Read this article to learn more about the new capabilities. Via Mashable.
Alexis Hall: 5 Colorful Sketches on Conversion Optimization
This post makes some great points on conversion optimization visually, using the iPad’s drawing tool. The sketches includes insight on the conversion funnel and landing pages. Via Search Engine Land.
Time to Weigh In: How much news do you consume on social networks vs. traditional media sources? Have you adjusted to the new Facebook timeline? Do you agree with the consumer categories set forth by Pinterest?
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© Online Marketing Blog, 2012. |
Online Marketing News: Maximize Facebook Timelines, Maximize Value Propositions, Drive Engagement | http://www.toprankblog.com
Online Marketing News: Facebook Gobbles Instagram, Sharing is Caring, New LinkedIn Stats, Location is Where it’s at: Literally
Posted on 13. Apr, 2012 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing, yahoo
Instagram The Timeline
This infographic detailing the evolution of Instagram by Visually is powerful for a couple reasons, including the fact that the entire timeline is visualized through the use of Instagram photos. From launching in 2010, to their first million users, and finally to the recent purchase of Instagram by Facebook this is a must read for any fans of the popular social app.
“LinkedIn Introduces Targeted Updates and Follower Statistics” With over 150 million professional users worldwide, LinkedIn is a powerful marketing asset. Recent upgrades revealed this week that marketers can now effectively target prospective clients with advertising campaigns and deliver unique content to those users Via SocialTimes.
“Agency Comes Up With ‘I Care’ Button For Social Media” Have you ever seen something on Facebook such as a posting about a natural disaster or other tragedy, and chose to “like” the post? Even if you’re simply showing your support something about clicking “like” may not feel right. Company DDB Worldwide has created a new social response known as the ‘I Care’ button, which allows users to show support and may open up the door for organizations to seek donations. Via Marketing Daily.
“5 Presentation Apps to Try” Applications for your mobile device or laptop can come in handy for business professionals on the go. There are a growing number of software programs available if you’re in a bind or are simply looking for a new way to share your content. This article includes 5 handy apps that any travelling marketer should give a try. Via Inc.
TopRank Online Marketing Team News
Mike Yanke
comScore: Only Search Engine To See Drop In Queries In March Was Yahoo!
According to a recent report by comScore, search continues to be strong – with a 5% increase in queries experienced in March by Google, Bing – and even AOL and Ask! Not joining the pack, however, is Yahoo! as the barely major search engine saw its queries decrease 5% over the same timeframe. Disheartening news after last week’s announcement of planned restructuring and layoffs. Via Search Engine Land.
Jolina Pettice
Google AdWords Adds ZIP Code Targeting, Location Insertion; Updates Location Targeting
According to Google, more than 20% of all searches are related to location. In order to improve the effectivness of geo-targeting, Google is now allowing users to tag ZIP codes, among other changes, within AdWords Location Targeting. This change will surely have an impact as 88% of smartphone users who search for local information take action within one day, according to Google. Via Search Engine Watch.
Shawna Kenyon
5 Ways to Market Your Brand with Location-Based Networks
With the rise in popularity of mobile location-based apps like Foursquare, location based marketing is something businesses should take advantage of. About 30% of smartphone owners access their social networks via their mobile browser, for businesses looking to include location based services this article provides some tips for getting started. Via Mashable.
Sam Giehll
Rethinking Maslow’s Hierarchy: Implications for a Socially-Connected World
This article applies Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to the world of branding and marketing, especially when it comes to modern social networks. Via Psychology Today.
Brian Larson
Pinterest Now 3rd Most Popular Social Network [Study]
Pinterest made headlines in February for referring more traffic than any other website. Now, Pinterest is back in the news, but this time is about its onsite growth. Via Search Engine Watch.
Roxanne Hagberg
Leaked: Google Analytics Is Making Its Way To Google+
Without the help of Twitter & Facebook, Google appears to be marching forward to provide more social data. Following the recent addition of social reports in Google Analytics, confidential slides from a Google deck suggest Google Analytics can be integrated with Google+. Analytics such as visits, page views, average time on site and bounce rate may be available soon. Via Marketing Land.
Sara Duane-Gladden
Twitter Ads Earn More Money Per Impression Than Facebook Ads [REPORT]
Facebook gets a lot of attention for being a heavyweight when it comes to marketing and advertising, but some new information indicates Twitter may be more of a contender than expected when it comes to ads. Check out this study to see how the numbers stack up when it comes to “per impression” earning. Via Media Bistro.
Time to Weigh In
What are your thoughts on Facebook’s purchase of Instagram? Do you think that you will use the image sharing application more or less? What affect will Google’s new geo-targeting changes have on your company?
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© Online Marketing Blog, 2012. |
Online Marketing News: Facebook Gobbles Instagram, Sharing is Caring, New LinkedIn Stats, Location is Where it’s at: Literally | http://www.toprankblog.com
Online Marketing News: Google Analytics Goes Social, Relationship Marketing, 7 Networking Secrets, Facebook Gets Green
Posted on 23. Mar, 2012 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, facebook, Google Analytics, News, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing
Social Media Marketing: The long term and short term value with Avinash Kaushik
This interview from #SESNY features Google evangelist Avinash Kaushik on monitoring social media value. Kaushik stresses that social media should be about quantifying your efforts. Companies must determine what they did that ended in specific results, and the economic value that was created due to these efforts. You can see another interview with Avinash Kaushik here on the power of storytelling and web analytics.
Tips & Tactics for Improving Your Business
“Why Relationship Marketing is Important for Businesses” This video interview with author and social media guru Mari Smith(@marismith) sheds some light on the notion of “people-to-people” marketing. In this video you’re learn why businesses must have listening skills and what businesses are doing well in relationship marketing. Via Social Media Examiner.
“5 Tips to Recruit a Star Candidate” Sometimes finding the right candidate for an open position isn’t easy, and doesn’t happen quickly. This article shares 5 very effective tips for “hunting” down candidates that will be the best fit for your organization. Via Inc.
“7 Networking Secrets from Silicon Valley’s Greatest Connector” Pejaman Nozad went from a 23 year old with $700 in his pocket to one of Silcon Valley’s best dealmakers. A lot of hard work and genius networking has catapulted him to success. In this article Nozad shares 7 secrets for networking like a pro. Via Forbes.
“5 Emails You Should Never Send” Have you ever hit send on an email and immediately regretted doing so? According to Penelope Trunk emails are obviously an effective way for communicating but there are some best practices when drafting your content. Via Ragan.
Online Marketing Team News
Brian Larson- How A Google Change May Mistakenly Turn Search Traffic Into Referral Traffic
Google is poised to make some changes to ways it tracks visitor information from users leveraging their web browser, Chrome. Some are speculating that this is change is Google extending its user privacy, while others have a slightly more aggressive take. Regardless of your interpretation of the intent, everyone should be familiar with this latest update and what it means to your analytics. Via Search Engine Land.
Alexis Hall- Search Marketing and Social Media in Regulated Industries
This post is a great resource for marketers working within regulated industries like pharmaceuticals and healthcare. While some companies within this industry are using a wait and see approach when it comes to social media, this post suggests ways to use search and social media now while remaining compliant. Via Search Engine Watch.
Shawna Kenyon- How Facebook Got its Green Back
Today Facebook released an animated infographic explaining its journey to sustainability. Prior to 2010 the focus was too focused on scaling to make going green a priority, but now Facebook has sustainable data centers, efficient photo storage and even a solar powered campus. Facebook hopes to boost its public image and bolster recruiting efforts with eco-aware talent. Via TechCrunch.
Time to Weigh In: What is your opinion on Google’s take on social analytics? Do you believe that your company is measuring the metrics that have the largest impact on your bottom line?
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© Online Marketing Blog, 2012. |
Online Marketing News: Google Analytics Goes Social, Relationship Marketing, 7 Networking Secrets, Facebook Gets Green | http://www.toprankblog.com
Online Marketing News: Train Employees to be Social, Update Talent Management, Become a Master Storyteller
Posted on 16. Mar, 2012 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing
How to Train Employees to Handle Your Social Media
This infographic by mindflash encourages companies to focus on uncovering the social media rock stars within the organization and prompting them to get on board with company goals and initiatives. Highlights include:
- Options available to organizations for social media execution
- Group training
- Determining employee familiarity with web technology
- Commonly included guidelines
“Are Your Talent Management Practices Out of Date?” Having trouble retaining key employees? This article suggests that it’s time for companies to take a different approach to talent management and find a balance between give and take with employees. Via Inc.
“How Can B2B Marketers Reduce Opt-outs From Email Marketing?” Many engagement opportunities are cut short when customers or prospects decide to opt-out of email communication. This in turn directly impacts a companies ability to influence customers, up-sell, and cross sell. If you’re looking for some helpful advice on actions you can take to reduce opt-outs I strongly recommend reading this article. Via BtoB.
“In Age of Pinterest, Instagram, Marketers Need An Image Strategy” It has become clear at this point that image sharing has become a very social activity and is not a passing craze. As people continue to consume even more viral content marketers must appeal to their audience with great written content and great visual content. Via AdAge.
Social Media & Content Marketing Tips
“8 Tips for Training Social Media Marketers” Hiring new members to join your social media team can be a tricky situation. Its important to allow them to focus their efforts on generating results but at the same time you must be very careful that they are accurately representing your brand as well as your clients. Here are 8 great tips for navigating the training process. Via Social Media Examiner.
“12 Top Community Managers Share Their Tips for Better Engagement” Everywhere you turn marketers are focusing on customer engagement. However, what constitutes as engagement is still a heavily debated topic. This article contains very valuable information from those who live it, successful community managers. Via Mashable.
“7 Ways to Become a Masterful Storyteller” Storytelling is an essential part of connecting with your audience. Stories evoke emotion and engage people who might not otherwise take notice. Via Ragan.
Top News From the TopRank Team
Lee Odden – “Google Gives Search a Refresh”
Starting in a few months, Google will start showing more facts and direct answers to queries at the top of the search-results page which could impact the search results for 10% to 20% of all search queries, or tens of billions per month. Via The Wall Street Journal.
Brian Larson – “3 Step Model for Developing Insights Through Keyword Trends”
Every online marketer worth their salt knows the importance of picking the right keywords to focus their optimization. However, far fewer understand how to leverage keywords and their search trends to dig deeper and gain a better understanding of the opportunity and audience they represent. Brad Neelan outlines 3 simple steps that can help marketers with the latter on this article in Search Engine Land.
Shawna Kenyon – “Foursquare on Facebook: Hands on With the New Timeline Integration”
This week Foursquare rolled out its new Facebook integration that puts checkin scorecards on Timelines. Last August Facebook removed its mobile-only check in feature and revamped its location function so it works more like a tag on status updates, photos and posts. The switch makes Facebook less competitive with other checkin services and serves as a better platform for services such as Forsquare to integrate with. Via Mashable.
Time to weigh in: What do you foresee as the dangers and benefits of tapping your internal team to contribute to your social media strategy? Does your company have a visual strategy and do you think this allows you to better connect with your audience? When it comes to customer engagement what are the 3 things you believe it is most important to measure?
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© Online Marketing Blog, 2012. |
Online Marketing News: Train Employees to be Social, Update Talent Management, Become a Master Storyteller | http://www.toprankblog.com
Online Marketing News: Facts Tell & Stories Sell, Start-up Tips from Tech Giants, Mobile Skyrockets, Breaking Up With Customers
Posted on 24. Feb, 2012 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, content marketing, Content Marketing Institute, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing, Social Media, social media marketing, Twitter
The History of Content Marketing
From the dawn of time people with things to sell have been using stories to attract, engage, and retain customers ala #optimize. The infographic above from the Content Marketing Institute takes us all the way through the evolution of content marketing and provides some meaningful insight into what companies have done in the past to generate results. You might learn a thing a two, plus it’s a great read.
”6 Start-up Tips From the World’s Biggest Tech Companies” Every company has to start somewhere. Famous companies such as Google, HP, and Microsoft were built on a set of core principals including creating long term customer relationships and listening to feedback. This post provides tips from some of the largest companies in world on how to get through the start up phase of your business. Via Inc.
“38 Million Americans Visit Social Networks on Mobile Devices ‘Near Daily’ [STUDY]“ A recent study released by comScore found that 64.2 million U.S. citizens use mobile devices to access social networking and more then half of them are visiting daily. Curious to know what type of information they’re reading and sharing? Via Mashable.
“10 Ways to Deal With Upset Customers Using Social Media” As hard as you try there will almost without exception be negative feedback about your company. What can separate you from the competition is the way that you handle this interaction. Each negative comment is an opportunity to address a problem or help retain a customer who might otherwise be lost. This article provides 10 very helpful tips on what you can do to turn a negative into a positive. Via SocialMedia Examiner.
“The Top Reasons Customers Break Up With Brands Online” Do you know why customers may be choosing to “break up” with your brand? This infographic provides some very interesting statistics on why consumers choose to unsubscribe from email campaigns, “unlike” your brand on Facebook, and stop following your company on Twitter. Via Ragan.
“What Matters in Social Business?” We can all agree that social business is top of mind for many marketers. However, we need to understand what matters most in social business. Understanding how online marketing has evolved and the role it will continue to play is key in creating a long-term sustainable strategy. Via CMS Wire.
TopRank Team News
Ken Horst – Google’s new Latitude Leaderboards suggest gamified check-ins are coming to Google+
Google’s recent update for Google Maps for Android included a new gaming element which is tied to its “Latitude” location app. This new update includes an overall leader board among friends and it leader boards by location.
Clearly Google has a plan to incorporate their check in service with Google+ and adding the gaming aspect is another indicator that Google is serious about fighting for this space. Will all this be enough to steal significant market share from heavily entrenched Foresquare? Stay tuned! Via The Next Web.
Brian Larson – Researcher: Facebook’s 2012 Ad Sales to Top $5B
Facebook ad revenue is expected to increase by 2 billion year over year. That’s right, social media giant Facebook is expected to reach 5.1 billion in ad sales revenue in 2012, according to eMarketeter. Of that 5.1 billion, 2.6 billion is expected to come from display ad sales. Trailing close behind in display ads is Google, which eMarketer expects to draw 2.5 billion in ad sales revenue.
As Google expands its footprint, it should come as no surprise that eMarketer predicts Google will surpass Facebook in display ad sales in 2013. Via ClickZ.
Time to Weigh In: Have you incorporated storytelling into your content marketing strategy? If so, what results have you seen? How do you currently handle negative feedback online and is it working?
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© Online Marketing Blog, 2012. |
Online Marketing News: Facts Tell & Stories Sell, Start-up Tips from Tech Giants, Mobile Skyrockets, Breaking Up With Customers | http://www.toprankblog.com
Online Marketing News: Pinterest’s Sneaky Tactics, Keeping Leaders Honest, 100 Million Videos Watched Per Day
Posted on 10. Feb, 2012 by Ashley Zeckman in Blog, content marketing, Search Engines, Search Industry News, Small Business Internet Marketing, Small Business Marketing, storytelling, yahoo
How Social Media Keeps Leaders Honest
David Jones of Havas and Mashable CEO Pete Cashmore recently sat down to talk about the responsibilities of the leaders of today to respond to social media, and how it holds them accountable.
“Google Clarifies: No, Ads Shouldn’t Help Rankings & No, SEO Isn’t Bad” Recent comments made by a new Google employee have some SEO’s up in arms. Apparently his comments included “SEO isn’t good for users” and “It’s a bug that you could rank highly in Google without buying ads.” Curious to know what else he has to say and what reaction this has caused within the online community? Via Search Engine Land.
“100 Million Americans Watch Online Video Per Day. Up 43% Since 2010- comScore” According to comScore Americans streamed 43.5 billion videos in December 2011 alone. This is an increase of 44% over the previous year. With this astronomical jump in online views, is television in trouble? Via TechCrunch.
“The Next Big Social Network Is You” Many companies are trying to address the now common social network exhaustion. Between the constantly shifting policy changes and programming updates many users are getting tired. This opinion piece shares that in the near future it will be less about your number of followers and more about a smaller group of well-connected individuals. What do you think? Via Information Week.
“5 Essential Spreadsheets for Social Media Analytics” If you are involved in social media, and are a small business this post provides some useful tools for measuring your data. Want to know the best part? They’re free, customizable, and easy to use. Via Mashable.
“Brand Storytelling Lessons You Can Steal from Hollywood” Innovation, a term we seem to hear quite frequently these days. As a content marketer innovation is especially important because not only must you attract customers, you must veer them away from your competition. Paying close attention to Hollywood entertainment and the way that promotion is done in that industry is a great means for discovering new ideas. Via Content Marketing Institute.
TopRank Team News
Alexis Hall – Report: National Marketers Love Local, Fail At Basic Tactics
This post discusses survey results from late 2011 which revealed that although many marketers have the perception they are highly invested in local advertising, survey results show they are failing when it comes to basic tactics, like management of local directory listings. Those seemingly small tactics can have a big impact on local results, so if marketers are really invested in their online local presence, they must be diligent when it comes to education on all types of tactics. Via Search Engine Land.
Ken Horst – Pinterest is quietly generating revenue by modifying user submitted pins
It appears as though Pinterest has found a way to monetize their site, even at this early beta stage. Most people would say that’s a good thing however the way they are making money has some people crying foul.
Pinterest is using a service called SkimLinks to add an affiliate link wherever there is a link to a product page that has an affiliate program. It’s not the idea that people are concerned about, it’s the fact that Pinterest is doing this without providing any disclosure to its users. Via LLsocial.
Brian Larson – Bing Now A Full Point Ahead of Yahoo In Search Share-comScore
According to comScore, Bing is now a full point ahead of Yahoo! in search share. While Google’s search results are highly flavored by Google+, Bing receives streams of information from Facebook and Twitter. With Yahoo! In Bing’s rear view mirror, is Google next? Via Search Engine Land.
Time to Weigh In: What do you think of Pinterest’s money making tactics? Smart move or too far? With so many American’s consuming video on a daily basis, are you including video in your 2012 online marketing strategy?
Gain a competitive advantage by subscribing to the
TopRank® Online Marketing Newsletter.
© Online Marketing Blog, 2012. |
Online Marketing News: Pinterest’s Sneaky Tactics, Keeping Leaders Honest, 100 Million Videos Watched Per Day | http://www.toprankblog.com
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