Travel companies are taking digital marketing approach, including a content strategy across platforms such as blogs, newsletters, dynamic websites and social media management. It is important for travel companies to get maximum people talking about them, mention them in pictures, even if people are not following the company on Twitter or Facebook? The answer is use of hash tags!  Frederic Gonzalo (Owner/Partner, Gonzo Marketing), explain the theory around the utilization of hash tags in destination marketing in his article link:  http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/hashtags-coming-alive-destination-marketing

Brands are investing more in social media. As per Forrester research, marketers will spend €4.3bn on social media by 2019, up from €2.6bn, and a compound annual growth rate of 10.5%. Further, it was found that 82% of the spending will be on social mobile advertising from 2014 to 2019. The study also says that Facebook dominates European consumers’ social habits, with 60% online people are in the top seven European countries visiting Facebook monthly and 14% visiting Twitter. Read more at:  http://digitalmarketingmagazine.co.uk/social-media-marketing/from-social-media-to-social-commerce/1427

According to a recent report from the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project, it was found that 61% of workers who have online access say email is very important for doing their job, and 54% say the Internet is very important. 35% of the workers describe land line or cell phones as important 4% say social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn are very important. Know more at:  : http://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2015/26796/the-most-important-tech-tools-for-workers

Social media is very important nowadays. According to a research done by Pew Research Internet Project, the following statistics was found. They are: 74% of online adults use social networking sites, 19% of online adults use Twitter, 71% of online adults use Facebook and 21% use Pinterest. So, businesses must leverage social media. Read more at: http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/leverage-social-media

63% of IT pros said that they would not consider a candidate for employment if they saw one to five social media comments about that company and 68% IT leaders said they would not consider a candidate if they saw a single negative social media post about his or her current employer, as seen by the TEKsystems survey. Social media plays a very important role in IT hiring. 68% IT leaders use social media to search for candidates and 82 percent use it to screen them. LinkedIn was rated as the top source for finding prospective employees. Facebook was second with 9%. 75% of IT pros rely on social media with 67% citing LinkedIn as the best source for finding jobs. Facebook came in second at 12%, followed by Google Plus at 7%. Read more at:

http://www.informationweek.in/informationweek/news-analysis/297739/social-media-matters-hiring

 A number of companies are creating new avenues for revenue generation by thinking out of the box and encouraging amateur-made catchy videos on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. This approach helps to nurture talent. Famebox, a company supported by Malaysia's Astro Group, is on a project where it aims to create "webstars" and make profits in an unconventional way, by making videos go viral so that they bring in at least a million hits. Revenue can also be generated by sharing with YouTube but it depends on the sponsorships from brands that are looking to advertise on social media. According to Kunal Rao, co-creator of The East India Comedy, the shift to online media for satire and commentary is due to the rising censorship on TV channels. To know more, read at: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-16/news/52873607_1_video-online-social-media-viral

Facebook along with market research agency GfK commissioned a study, according to which more than 60 percent of adults in the US use at least two devices every day, and more than 40% start an activity on one device and finish it on another. Facebook announced this week that it will track users' actions between devices and share with advertisers when an ad or promotion leads to a purchase. Facebook plans to capitalize on the multi-device trend. This will give marketers valuable information to make more informed advertising decisions, it does not pose any threat to users' privacy, said Rebecca Lieb, analyst at Altimeter Group. The information Facebook shares, is neither personal nor personally identifiable, she explained. Facebook is the first company to offer this type of information to marketers. Marketers can find the new cross-device conversions for campaigns within your Facebook Ad Reports. Read more at:

http://www.informationweek.in/informationweek/news-analysis/297575/facebook-track-shopping-habits

The genuine number of likes measures the success of a brand. Most of the time users are forced to like pages for getting access to apps and games. So it is important that when someone likes a page he does that genuinely so that facebook gets a “quality connection”. Thus brands no longer would be able to force users to like their pages and thus this would be a positive change for brands and agencies as well. As users are shifting towards mobile facebook the “like gate” strategy of making users like pages forcefully won’t work anymore and now brand need to provide stronger reasons to users for liking their page. Thus a genuine relationship is created. Now it should be more important to reach out to customers that count than counting customers.

This strategy would provide grace period for adjusting and affects local marketers mostly. Brands should pamper their customers than just feeding them up with incentives. They should have a long term strategy than a tactical one. Marketers should not only cherish the number of fans but also engage more with each piece of content.

read more at: http://www.marketing-interactive.com/facebook-initiates-new-policy-for-genuine-fans/

The Internet is the great equalizer as it gives small businesses marketing opportunities on par with their larger competitors. The good news is that a number of inexpensive small business marketing methods can help a business achieve its goal-and some are even free. The following are the small business Marketing Tips one can afford: 1. Post videos online

2. Post case studies on one’s website

3. Use company’s blog to reach out to prospects and customers

4. List the company on Google Maps/Local

5. Search forums for customers

6. Share information all over the Web

7. Use content curation to drive interest in the products

8. Use online services to re-target lost sales and to list products

9. Use Facebook's sponsored stories

10. Use online services to get the media's attention.

Not every marketing tactics listed above will work well for every company, but a combination of several of them—or adaptations to any of them—should be helpful to just about any company.

Read more at: 

http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/News/Marketing/10-affordable-small-business-marketing-strategies-3.html

According to a study nineteen percent of online Americans aged 15-to-54 is reached by social media at least once a day regarding prime-time TV. Sixteen percent of prime-time TV viewing occasions involve some interaction with social media. During nearly half of these occasions, the viewer is engaging with social media specifically about the show being viewed. Socially-connected TV viewing is most evident with new TV shows and sports programming. On 3.3% of viewing occasions; they're using Twitter on 11.4% of prime-time TV viewing occasions, viewers are using Facebook. On 3.8% of prime-time viewing occasions, viewers are using Facebook and 1.8% on twitter regarding the show they are watching - making them socially-connected viewers. Therefore, Facebook's socially-connected viewing occasions were 33 percent of its total TV viewing occasions while Twitter's were 55 percent. A key question is how social media usage relates to new viewing platforms and behaviors. The reason is that the majority of viewing remains live and on traditional TV sets but social media use has a stronger relationship with the newer platforms and behaviors. Social media influence is closely linked to viewing on non-traditional screens. Read more at: 

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 E-commerce businesses are switching to social media, but the fact that online trade experts are debating the impact of social media on ecommerce sales. The most important impact social media can have on ecommerce is to build faith and generate leads. In 2013, 75% of sales produced from social media come from Facebook, Twitter, making them the top 2 networks public use to discover products to buy. When we consider that U.S. customers are anticipated to expend an  $327 billion online in 2016, it is simple to observe why one must spend in social media. Read more at: http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/rise-social-media-ecommerce-infographic

http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/rise-social-media-ecommerce-infographic

Social media is successfully a stage for discussion and sharing, motorized by services. One chief use of social media is observance of friends and connections around the world; it is also a platform for clients, investor and workers to speak with one another. We will refer to social media marketing as SMM.SMM is about being present and engaging our target audience directly, but the medium is largely unorganized. In order to prosper we will need a sketch which helps to reach out to the true spectators . Social media gives huge chances to small businesses. The Social Media Examiner online magazine, reports 86% of marketers in 2013 measured social media to be critical for their business with 49% of marketers opting Facebook. As per the firm WebDAM Solutions, 43% of marketers establish clients through LinkedIn, while 52% of marketers originate patrons through Facebook in 2013.

 . Read more at: 

http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/introduction-social-media-marketing-guide-small-businesses

Checking emails have become the primary activity for smart phone and tablet users. Thus informing patients about new health care services through emails have become compulsory. Images are the best method of interacting with, informing and empowering patients.  This is because brain processes visual data faster which consists of 90% of the transmitted data. Twitter these days have become the best medium to interact with the aging population who consumes a major portion of the health services. In 2014, more than 50% internet users will redeem a digital coupon which can be used by partners for patient cost saving and adherence.  Marketing needs to be done on multiple platforms and for many devices because the internet device connection has become vast which includes Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The reviews of previous patients' online matters the most as 90% people get influenced by peer recommendations. Among the 10.3 billion Google searchers and 78% internet users a major portion hit the top links. Thus the top hits of any organization conclude the bottom line. Content marketing is cheaper than traditional marketing and generates an income 3 times as many leads. So for any strategy the target audience and their choices are to be realized first. Patients receiving newsletters along with emails spend more and are more informed. Most patients prefer articles to direct advertisements. Thus advertising campaigns along with patient experience testimonies, community reviews are important to highlight work being done inside out. Read more at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolefisher/2014/07/15/10-things-hospital-leadership-need-to-know-about-social-media-and-marketing/

Social media has become the most important tool for connecting to a broad range of online customers at the same time. But because of its indirect ways it is difficult to measure the immediate results. According to Conduct Marketing Institute only 58 percent of marketers believe that social media is effective in spite of major businesses spending time and money for making their presence on these media. Interviews and studies have shown that five out of six millennial of youngsters between the ages of 18-36 years prefer social networking sites to interact with brands. But youngsters across most countries prefer some kind of incentives while they interact with the brands online. The study also revealed that most youngsters use at least two internet devices a day and pick up their phones 43 times on an average. Facebook has been found to be most popular among young followed by YouTube which has also been found quiet influential. Other sites include Twitter, LinkedIn etc.

Thus social media is definitely worth investing in and getting include in one’s content strategy if young consumers are its target audience.

Read more at:  http://www.castleford.com.au/blog/2014/is-social-media-the-best-way-to-reach-young-consumers

Social Media Participation has been limited to younger population and is rarely used by the older population. This has been a prevailing argument again social intelligence.  According to New Media Trend Watch 33 percent of the 80 million people born between 1946 and 1964 use social media, among which only US accounts for 26 million individuals. For Facebook and Google+ the population between 45 to 54-age is the fastest growing, seeing a 46 percent jump for Facebook and 56 percent leap for Google+. This growth has not been contained to the mainstream social networks and has spanned online communities, blogs and open comment sites, aside from the massive networks. According to Pew,presently 67 percent of Internet users between the ages of 50 and 64 are using online social circles. Beyond this, the segment of Internet users 65 and older who use  social media has significantly increased from 13 percent in 2009 to 43 percent in 2013.To know more go to: http://www.listenlogic.com/2013/11/senior-moment-social-media-shifts/

Social media defines an array of internet sites that enable people from all over the world to interact. Social media affects our mental health and well-being. Facebook might cause anxiety and make life miserable. Facebook followed by My Space, Twitter, LinkedIn are leading social networking sites. Majorly below 30 aged men women use internet and 42 percent of them use multiple sites. The ability to connect to the people around the world attracts people to these sites. Social media has become a way of self-distraction and boredom relief. This leads to addiction. Scoring four of six criteria indicates addiction. People who are more anxious and socially insecure tend to use Facebook more. They tend to gain attention and boost self-esteem through Facebook. 

Again these sites can feel less confident comparing their popularity with their friends which leads to negative emotion. It also creates worry and discomfort for people hampering face to face interactions. Moreover there are cases of cyber bullying by adolescents.

In spite of these facts social media could be helpful to identify mental health issues. For example people with less pictures and friends might have the inability to enjoy from activities which normal people enjoy. Moreover a happy status may sometimes inspire others to post happy updates too. They might cause their friends’ emotional expression to change. Positive expressions spread more than negative expressions. In a magnified version this might cause an ‘epidemic of well-being’. But in conclusion whatever might be the affects, positive or negative, the usage of internet and social media is unlikely to fade any time soon. read more at : http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/275361.php

Companies can maintain customer support department to answer customer doubts and problems in social networking websites like Twitter and Facebook. Answers to customers should be quick and within few hours of posting. We can implement softwares that can be synchronized with Facebook, to manage private messages and posts, and to keep track of customer service questions & problems and also to serve requests. Some of these softwares are Sales Force Desk, Happy Fox etc. One can use the Facebook page to spread the problems associated with that particular product and other product issues. Social space provides a platform to make people aware of the product defects. It will demonstrate the business house's willingness to take responsibility for mistakes making fans aware of the present business scenario and maintaining transparency. Some brands often offer their fans monthly exclusive deals and some host frequent giveaways. To know about this aspect follow Jim Belosic (CEO of ShortStack)'s link: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/social-customer-service-facebook/ .

Max De Marzi, software field engineer with Neo Technology, inspired by Facebook’s graph search, talks about how use of graph search adds value to the enterprise by making practical use of big data. He also indicated how this technology can be applied to solve business problems.

For more information follow

http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/news/2240215892/Facebook-inspires-enterprise-to-use-big-data-graph-searches?asrc=EM_NLN_27254566&utm_medium=EM&utm_source=NLN&utm_campaign=20140317_Facebook%20inspires%20enterprise%20to%20use%20graph%20searches_cdelacvivier&track=NL-1839&ad=892421