What I'm Reading Today

Enablers Anonymous - "39"

What I'm Reading: 3 Articles All About SEO

To be frank, SEO is a weak point of mine.

This presents a big problem as search engine optimization is one of the most effective (and, therefore, crucial) tools in the marker’s toolbox . Sad as it may be, though, it’s still a bit foreign to me.

I’ve always held true that good content will be found and will be impervious to Google’s changing algorithms, so rather than focusing on these tricks of the trade, just produce good content. This “slow and steady” method may be the tortoise that ultimately beats the hare – can any business really afford to wait that long?

Being an SEO weakling is not a trait that I wear with pride, but it’s an identified problem – and once a problem is recognized the next step is to resolve that problem, if possible. Luckily, in this scenario, resolution is possible. All it takes is some (lots of) reading followed by implementation.

3 Articles All About SEO

A note before continuing: I found some of the terms used in these articles to be obscure. Rather than remaining confused, open a new browser tab and do a Google search on the term. After all, we’re all here to learn a little something.

The Beginner’s Guide to SEO

6 Ways to Future Proof Your SEO Strategy

5 SEO Trends Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know for 2014

If there are other resources or articles that you’ve found to be essential in this quest to understand SEO, please add them in the comments.

What I'm Reading Today: The Backbone (& Mastering) of Facebook Ads

From the article, Kathi Kruse writes:

“Developing a successful Facebook ads strategy is crucial. It’s no longer okay to just post on Facebook, try to grow your fanbase and hope it will work for you. More than likely, it won’t! Hope is not a strategy.”

Beyond the deeper content of this article, the last words she writes in the quote above can’t be repeated often enough. If phrases such as “Hope for the best”, “…And see what happens” are at the end of your plan, then your marketing plan is flawed.  Let’s be honest, your marketing plan is nonexistent. That’s alright though, as every journey has a start.  If you don’t have a roadmap to success, build one.

I’m becoming a big advocate of Facebook ads of late. My friend David Soto helped change my mind on all of this by introducing me to some of Facebook’s advanced Ad tools. Rather than being one of the many who are worked up about Facebook’s limitation, I’m now realizing how to leverage these limitations to my advantage. As much as I don’t like rewarding a company for holding my content for ransom, it is a way to separate those who are serious from those who would clog up your news feed with nonsense.

What I'm Reading Today: How The Facebook News Feed Really Works

There must be a theme with me this week – I’ve posted a lot of Facebook related reading.

The always wise Mari Smith offers some stats that explain Facebook’s limited/limiting news feed and how to still get some traction from your Organic posts.

Read the entire article here.

Today I'm reading: 5 Google+ Marketing Tips from the Pros

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I’m going to be honest (because I’m a horrible liar), Google+ seems like a necessity rather than an opportunity. It’s seemingly a no man’s land, but many social media experts will tell you that it’s an absolute requirement for any digital marketing strategy. I guess this is what happens when the world’s search engine of choice decides to compete with the world’s social media platform of choice.

I’m not a G+ naysayer, mind you. I still think there’s potential in them hills and I think Google has done many things right when it comes to Google+. I also think than rather than having already flopped, that Google+ has yet to really launch. Maybe, someday, when the mass exodus of Facebook happens, Google+ will be our playground. Today, though, it’s hard to embrace G+ as anything more than a burden.

Perhaps today’s reading will turn me around on this. 5 Media experts weigh in on their best tips for Google+ and example the success of those tips. I’m not above admitting I’m wrong, especially if it makes me better at my job.

Today I'm Reading: Tips for Mastering Facebook

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From the article:

“Using Facebook correctly can be a huge opportunity for both individuals and businesses. Post the right types of content at the right times of day and you can see a flood of new customers or fans of your brand.”

Now, giving a quick skim of this article, which I will definitely be reading today, I see some things that I disagree with right out of the gate:

“2. Know when’s best to post.”

One of the biggest problems with Facebook recently is that it doesn’t seem to really care when you post. It’s not uncommon for posts that are a day old to show up among the recent posts in your feed (which can be a few hours old themselves). I previously focused on time, as it seemed to be a much more predictable factor in the Facebook world, but that’s simply not the case any longer. A shift of an hour or two (or 19) can destroy that strategy. In short, timing a post is unreliable and, therefore, can’t be a core part of your strategy.

Post in the middle of the night… post in the middle of the day…. Facebook cares not for this measurement that you mortals call “Time.”

“3. Attract customers and increase engagement by asking questions and creating contests.”

I’m not in disagreement with this section, really. Engagement can be very important – but it can also tell the world that you’re being ignored. That’s a minor gripe though.

My real exception to this section is that many a hack social media manager will post things like “It’s national hat day. What’s your favorite style of hat?” – which makes sense if you have a hat company, but it’s wasteful noise if this is a post made by a restaurant. In this section, the author, Jason Fell, cites “Question posts get 100 percent more comments than ones without questions.” but fails to note that “who gives a shit if it’s not a meaningful question to your audience about your brand?” (that second quote was mine.) After all, there’s a reason they are following your brand and it’s likely not to be reminded about National Hat Day (which is on Jan. 15 – don’t forget.) I suspect that Fell understands this and that qualification was omitted from the article for whatever reason – but given the abundance of weak social media managers out there, I think it’s an important point to make.

That said, Fell has also added some really great insights  - especially point #5. Seriously, ask your employees to participate in your strategy.

Reading over the bullet points, there is some fantastic information in this article, especially for people looking for direction on marketing through Facebook.

Today I'm Reading: 10 Time-Saving Social Media Tools

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Automation: One of the true wonders of the modern age.  Buffer has compiled a list of several social media tools, many of them free, that will hopefully help you (and me) become more productive social media managers…. you know, so long as we aren’t spending that newly found free time playing Skitchin’.

From the article: 

“When it comes to productivity with your social media marketing, I’ve found that there are a handful of areas that are worth investigating, improving, and experimenting.

Automate

Schedule

Communicate

Engage

When I look for helpful, time-saving tools, I often grab ones that make a difference in one or more of these areas. It’s how I got started with Buffer’s sharing app, and it’s how I’ve tested tools in the past.

Each of the 10 time-saving social media tools I’ve highlighted below fit into one of these categories. Here’s hoping that a bit of help in each area can unlock some spare time for you this summer.”

Today I'm reading: Crafting the Perfect Facebook Post

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Posting to Facebook is easy. Creating an effective Facebook post, though, requires a bit more thought and consideration.

From the article:

“So you’ve put hours and hours into creating fantastic looking content, such as a contest, blog post, or some other Facebook campaign, only to have it drown in the torrent of the news feed.

You just checked your insights and you know that your post reached over 1000 people, but only 7 people clicked on it! What gives?

Unfortunately, I’ve seen it all to often – posts with great potential fall by the wayside due to poor construction.”

This blog post from Heyo provides some great insights and food for thought. Since Facebook continues to be one of the most powerful marketing venues we have, knowing how to communicate more effectively in that arena is a must.

8 Types of Twitter Cards Businesses Are Using

Today I’m reading about Twitter Cards on SocialMediaExaminer. What’s a twitter card? Good question.

From the article:

Twitter cards enrich your tweets with additional content, media and calls to action.

Ok, sounds very useful. And since their appeal is obvious, but the implementation is not so obvious, could be a good thing to have some expertise on. I suspect you’ll see me using them in the very near future.

Read the rest of the article here http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/twitter-cards-types/

Then you can follow that up with a podcast episode  on setting them up here: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/twitter-cards-for-blogs/

TODAY! I DJ at Great Divide and My Hair Trip!

It’s a double header today! My morning will be spent at Denver Comic Con – not in a professional capacity, but instead fulfilling a months long promise to my kids. But our day will be abbreviated as I have work to do, baby!

2:00 P – 6:00 P – Great Divide 20th Anniversary Mile High Soul Club (3403 Brighton Boulevard, Denver, CO)

7:00 P – 11:00  P – Grand opening of My Hair Trip! Salon DJ Tyler Jacobson (773 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO)

See ya at one of these!

Sweet Georgia Sugar makes all-natural, cruelty-free beauty products

Today I’m reading an article about my lovely and talented better half. She did an interview for Denver’s Westword about our All-Natural skin care company, Sweet Georgia Sugar.

From the Article:

After suffering from eczema for most of her life, Sarah Jacobson was tired of getting little or no relief from over-the-counter and prescription options. Taking matters into her own hands, she combined a little research with her own self-taught organic cooking skills and started creating all-natural lotions in her kitchen. The result was astounding — her skin became clear, so much so that coworkers wanted to know what she was doing differently. That’s how Jacobson’s all-natural skincare line Sweet Georgia Sugar was born, and less than a year after it began, Jacobson is seeing big business for her small operation.

Read the rest of the article from Bree Davies here.

Google Launches New Platform to Connect Businesses With Customers

Today I’m reading about Google My Business – which, despite what the name implies, is not a porn site. Instead, it will replace Google Places for Business and Google+ business accounts.

From the article:

Google wants to create a better business directory and, this time, they mean business.

On Thursday the tech giant launched Google My Business, a one-stop way for merchants to manage their presence on a variety of the company’s properties including search, maps and Google+.

Five Ways a Business Grew 800-Fold With Social Media

Today I’m reading Five Ways a Business Grew 800-Fold With Social Media from the always great socialmediaexaminer.com.

From the article:

Alison Prince–a self-described “cheapskate at heart” and owner of Pick Your Plum, an online retailer specializing in limited-time discount deals–grew her business 800-fold using what she calls her “Secret Sauce”.

3 local designers share the best (and worst) design trends this year

From BuiltInColorado.com comes this great article about design trends.

From the article:

What are you excited about it in the design world right now?

Jared Spool’s talk on “disruptive design” is really exciting! He says it’s a great time to be a designer because it’s time to focus on design. This means no more banner ads, disruptive pop ups, or poorly designed navigation. Companies in general are discovering how much it helps their product to have a well designed website. You’ll notice website like Target are trying new tactics with their shopping cart to help users successfully check out easier and faster. It’s a win win for both.

Read the rest of the article here:

From BufferApp: 6 Research-Backed Ways to Get More Followers on Twitter, Facebook, G+, and More

Would you believe that I’m using some of these tips in this very post?  (Of course you would.)

From the article:

I think the best bit of advice on followers I’ve read is from our co-founder Leo:

Quality is key. Quantity can’t be forgotten.

Follower count is one of the metrics we keep a close eye on with our social media reports andaudits. There is a lot of great advice on how to grow your followers on social media (much of which I’ll relay below), and at Buffer we’ve always been interested in the research behind the advice. How, specifically, can you increase your followers? Which actionable tactics can you take today to grow your follower numbers? 

I went looking for data—and I think I found a few good answers.

Continue reading the rest of the article from BufferApp.com here: http://blog.bufferapp.com/get-more-followers-twitter-facebook-research