Archive for the ‘Social Media’ Category

If you’ve noticed that Facebook has been a little buggy lately, you’re not alone and there are several reasons why. In response to mounting competition, Facebook is in the process of rolling out major changes. Whether you are a Facebook power user, or only log on occasionally to view pictures of friends and family, this list of changes has something for everyone.

You No Longer Need 25 Fans To Get A Custom Page URL

Historically, a major pain point for Facebook page managers was the need to wait to accumulate the 25 fans necessary to create a custom page URL once a page had been created. Those vanity extensions go quickly, and it can be frustrating to watch some of the best fits for a brand disappear while you work to build your fan base. And who want to refer their earliest fans to a long, unmemorable URL with a bunch of numbers at the end. Well take heart. As of this week, once you hang that digital shingle, the option to select a vanity URL is yours.

Verizon states their Location Based Service (LBS) API offers a resolution of 150m. That figure is conservative in my estimate as I have seen my location on some apps better than 10m. LBS are used for all manner of applications. Outfits like Living Social offer instant deals depending on where you are. These deals seldom inspire me to try the deli on the corner with the dusty ceiling fan.  Focusing deals on where you are is cool. Once the cool factor has worn off, the $10 for $20 deal at the dusty deli remains. Not cool.  Other than maps and directions, the killer application for LBS still eludes us. The added fidelity of knowing where and who you are at the same time is the ultimate prize.

1. 6 Things to Know About Using QR Codes in Content Marketing
By Nate Riggs on the Content Marketing Institute Blog

In our most popular tweeted post from last week, Nate Riggs provides a summary of statistics on QR code adoption and its increasing applicability in the market.

Takeaways: It seems like people have been talking about QR codes for ages, but in the absence of really strong case studies, its touch for a lot of businesses to see where the technology is going and whether it’s worth integrating into their marketing strategies. This article offers several great points to consider before adopting QR codes as a marketing tactic, including creating the right landing page (sending folks to a page that isn’t optimized for mobile is a HUGE don’t) and keeping things simple. Remember, a QR code is intended to be a point of conversion – keep the clutter out.

1. Break Free of the Digital-Content Trap
By Bob Knorpp for AdAge CMO Strategy

While conventional wisdom dictates that content is king, Bob Knorpp of The BeanCast Marketing Podcast argues that content alone is a dead end for marketers, particularly for digital channels.

Takeaway: Knorpp sums it up well by saying, “The value of Facebook to your customers is not the content you put there. The true value is derived from the experience of connecting with friends.” This is essentially true for any digital channel. Content certainly has its place, but the real value lies in the relationships and engagement patterns formed with your audience over time. Too often marketers focus on click-through rates or impressions, but miss the opportunity to create valuable experiences for their customers. Engagement doesn’t end with “a click, a comment or a share.” Those interactions are only the beginning.

By Angela Brown, Senior Digital Strategist

Just days after launching Google+, the search giant upped the ante with the launch of a social engagement measurement tool in Google Analytics and Webmaster Tools. In Google Analytics, this new feature is available in the Visitor section between Technology and Mobile.