Social Media Traps

Found this article today on Business2Community.com regarding social media traps to avoid. Give the article a read for more information -- I completely agree with all 3 of their suggestions.

1. Avoid Automation

Scheduling posts ahead of time, cross-promoting status updates, monitoring all your platforms on HootSuite... Sounds like "automation domination." However, this isn't where the problem is. The problem lies in the idea of sounding like a robot online. You must bring life and personality to your brand on social platforms! It's important that people feel they are connecting with a relatable and honest human being. Check out the Bank of America example posted with the article.

2. Avoid Acting Like a Teenager

When you're curating information to push out to your customers, it's important you consider your audience. You want to push the limits and be humorous, but never overstep your boundaries. An example of acting immaturely on social media is the constant uploading of "memes" even as a professional brand. People will quickly lose interest, and "unlike" your page because the posts are annoying and obtrusive. It is important to hook your audience emotionally, but find another way. For example, create short video clips or share pictures with a meaning and story behind them.

Also, it is important to post more than just static content. Hold random giveaways or even run community based initiatives for a new slogan, logo, etc. Ask simple questions having to do with everyday life or peoples' preferences. This is how you get people interested engaging with you. The more users returning to your page, the better your social campaign is going.

3. Avoid a Strategy Without Analytics

Analytics are huge. This is how you track how your engagement is progressing. What type of interactions are you having and how meaningful are they? Your campaign won't get anywhere without analytics. Here are 10 useful analytics tools from Venture Beat.

Social Media Strategy: Complaining Customers

As I'm transitioning into a career in social media, I have been doing some independent research regarding various social strategies. Today I found a note-worthy study that I thought was worth a share.

A recent survey was conducted by the Social Media Marketing University and published on Newswire regarding customer complaints via social media platforms. The survey concluded that brands are not prepared to handle complaints in social media. Long have I agreed with this statement, as I feel brands/companies are too slow or nonchalant in their responses. For me, complaints and the brands' ability to handle various situations with customers over social media is a reason I like the industry so much. Social media adds a certain level of engagement (not to mention problem-solving) to your marketing efforts. It can make or break any campaign, and must be treated seriously.

The article explains that more than 50% of brands do not have an effective strategy to deal with social media complaints and hazards.  This is overwhelming to me. I cannot believe that reputable and widespread brands do not consider the threat of complaints before launching a social campaign. Furthermore, it is vastly important to deal with the complaints in a professional and timely matter.

I learned in class that all it takes is one positive, well-handled interaction to turn a complainer into an apostle. This is the type of job I find interesting and rewarding (albeit dealing with a lot of angry customers). I've always thought it could only be beneficial to respond to everyone as quickly and professionally as possible. Everyone loves a response, whether it be a solution to their problem, or a simple acknowledgement of their situation. Brands should learn to empathize with the average Joe. Hard work on this side of social media is crucial, and although it takes time it is one of the more advantageous strategies a company can set in place. Below you'll see a pie graph illustrating the findings of the survey with regards to responding to customers:

Update on Cristiano Ronaldo

He's at it again!

If you look back my post from November, you'll see some information about soccer-stud Cristiano Ronaldo trying to market his name into the business world. His previous attempt entailed men's underwear, but now he's started his own social network! (Read more at Mirror Online).

Titled Viva Ronaldo, the site offers photos, games, community interaction, and opportunities to meet and play soccer with Ronaldo himself. The website offers connections to his Twitter and Facebook pages, so you can easily post/tweet to him, and the network is even available for download in the App Store. (Get it HERE)

It will be interesting to see an athlete take a "fansite" to the next level by creating a social network revolved around himself. Even more interesting to see if the network succeeds. For this international superstar, however, it may not be too difficult as he is the most followed athlete on Twitter, with 23,614,324 followers. That's a little more than twice what LeBron accounts for!

Winning the 2014 Ballon d'Or (given annually to the best individual soccer player in the world) may also help this ever growing superstar's popularity and reach extend just a little bit further. The 28 year old beat out Messi and Ribery to take home the prestigious award. Here he is, pictured emotionally holding the award.