According to some people branding is equivalent to ranking but actually you can position yourself at different times in different markets as different things. Branding is a hard-core recognition factor. We are a generation and a nation wanting to be special. We want to be richer, more beautiful, better dressed, and more effortlessly gorgeous than any other generation that we know. Contrary to how many people think branding is not just a logo and brings with itself benefits of it. Branding your business ensures that consumers will know what you're about and so you are remembered. Secondly, people build close bonds with brand identities. Consumers want quality products that they can trust and you gain customer loyalty easily. While Internet branding offers huge opportunities for business, in order for it to be effective, one needs to attract and engage its customers and that is not easy on the Internet. Your Internet branding strategy should make your online brand noticeable and apparent. Think of the message you want to convey and the image you want to be formed and that is your brand. Read more at: http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/understanding-branding-importance-marketing-your-business

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/

Unless cyber bullying is resolved and removal of objectionable content is done, major social media websites and apps are going to get a check from an Australian government official. They might also be named and shamed if they do not act properly. An e-safety commissioner is to be appointed by Paul Fletcher, the parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Communications, who will be the central point of contact for children, parents and law enforcement agencies. He would also fly regularly overseas to establish informal relationships with people. He would be given the responsibility to travel when any new site is made and make them understand that they might be told to take out objectionable posts if they do not fulfil their expectation.

The sites must have complaining schemes for objectionable content and terms of use defining cyber bullying. Education should be given against cyber bullying. Several sites have objected to the appointment of an e-commissioner because that might threaten free speech and claimed that industry oversight might serve the purpose better. Read more at: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/were-watching-you-social-media-sites-face-being-named-

In early April, a new law in France banned the organizations from sending mails to their employees after 6 p.m. according to The Economist, it was not a law at all but a labor agreement aimed at improving health among a specific group of professionals. This workload at bed is not being busy but ineffective also. Facebook and Twitter report that their sites are most active during office hours. And research shows that these digital derailments are costly: it’s not only the minutes lost responding to a tweet but also the time and energy required to “reenter” the original task. This is not multitasking but multiswitching which gives extra pressure on us. The great tech historian Melvin Kranzberg said, “technology is neither good nor bad, nor is it neutral.” Instead of falling prey to ambient work or play we should decide our different levels of tech engagements at alternate times and maximize productivity, efficiency and success. Read more at: http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/08/if-youre-always-working-youre-never-working-well/

Email is one of the oldest tools which is still relied upon by the marketers. There is lot of information on optimizing email marketing but not all are true. To make email marketing as effective as possible it is first necessary to separate out the information which one can believe from ones to discard. Myth 1: Consumers are drowning in emails from trusted brands. Myth 1: Consumers are drowning in emails from trusted brands. 60% receive less than 6 mails per day. Myth2: Best time to mail is at 3 pm on Thursday. Only 21% of purchases happen within 2 days of sending mail. Myth 3: You should stop sending to inactive users after 6 months. They are still alive. Myth 4: Consumers mark email as spam. One out of 2000 does this. Myth 5: More the emails sent by brands, ignorance from customer’s side increases. Number of consumers checking the mail increases, increasing revenue. Myth 6: Short subject lines give better results. Over 70 characters increase clicks. Myth 7: Because of subject lines, email lands up in spam folder. According to 540bn emails sent till date, ‘spam’ keywords have little effects on ending up in spam folder. Read more at: http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/email-marketing-myths-infographic

Google search algorithms affect around 90% of online searches. These strip out bad searches, sites with keywords, duplicated content and manipulated hyperlinks based on quality, originality and relevance of online content. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) needs to change, we cannot build links like we use to and are more focused on content making. Business still has the need of a SEO professional in a more changed and creative way and aware about how to implement basic optimization. Content written by a reputable journalist or blogger is ranked higher by Google. Google gives importance to the engagement of the user with the content than paid for content. SEO agencies focused on link manipulation through “black hat” techniques and keyword-focused methods of SEO are going out of business while those focused on content marketing are thriving. There is now less differences between the roles of PR, social media, SEO and digital marketing. It is important to create brand value and have good, creative content and be technical sounding. Thus to offer so much for content writing increased collaboration is required creating their own digital newsrooms for real-time marketing strategies. This would maximize on the benefits.

Expansion of SEO is never a threat to PR professionals. PR might now become a part of the SEO agency team as the skill of the former is more vital than before. Google changes are now more human-friendly and people now search online using questions and complex phrases than just stand-alone keywords and content makers solve this with SEO in mind.

 Read more at: http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jul/28/google-seo-social-media-search-marketing-panda-penguin- 

Social media addiction is quiet similar to any other addition. Disclosing information through social media generates similar sensation as eating or drinking and it can be as addicting as drug. Social media helps you contact with people without any risk. You can control what you show, you look, voice, emotions are not exposed. Little kids should be controlled on the time and extent of usage of internet and parents should have all the information about what they are doing on the web. Kids should not have any secrets. Adults along with children also get addicted to social media. When someone posts in the middle of a crisis or ignores the person next to him for posting on social media he is believed to be addicted. read m http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/07/26/study-social-media-my-be-just-as-addicting-as-other-vices-drugs-and-drinking/ore

The strength of social media is that it can answer questions you had not asked and perhaps had not even thought of. Its weakness is that it can't answer most of the questions that market researchers' clients ask. There have been some successes and a couple of examples are

• Assessing campaign or message breaks through.

• Identifying language, topics and ideas.

• Outside market research.

But the key problems are:

• Most people do not comment in social media, and most of the comments are not about clients’ brands and services.

• Social media deals with the world as it is, brands can’t use it to test ads, to test new products and services, or almost any future plan.

• The dynamic quality of social media means that it is very difficult to compare two activities. Thus the accuracy of social media measurements become limited.

• Good social media usage requires people, which tend to make it more expensive and slower.

• It is very difficult to attribute the comments to distinct groups.

Read more at: 

http://www.greenbookblog.org/2014/04/25/why-has-social-media-analytics-met-with-limited-success-in-market-research/</a

Social media defines an array of Internet sites that enable people from all over the world to interact. We all have our own reasons for using social media. What is interesting is that the researchers found that people who are more anxious and socially insecure are more likely to use the social networking site. In 2012, Anxiety UK found that 53% of participants said social media sites had changed their behavior, while 51% of these said the change had been negative. Many people using social networking sites make comparisons with others, which can lead to negative emotions. Furthermore, the survey revealed that two thirds of participants reported difficulty relaxing and sleeping after they used the sites, while 55% said they felt "worried or uncomfortable" when they were unable to log onto their social media accounts. Although many studies point to the negative impacts of social media on mental health and well-being, some researchers say they could have the opposite effect. Social networking sites could be a useful tool in identifying individuals with mental health issues. A study, from the University of California San Diego, suggests that using social media may even spread happiness. They found that happy status updates encourage other users to post happy status updates themselves. Overall, it appears that the exact effects of social media on our mental health and well-being remain to be seen. Read more at:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/275361.php</a

Growth in social media networking with increased logging into Facebook and twitter accounts has been accounted to be about 37 % in 2013 according to trends in digital marketing, media and commerce. Though the global rate might be less the growth rate in India of social networking has been high especially in urban areas. India has recorded the second highest number of Facebook users and is likely to become the largest number of Facebook users in 2016. A survey by Internet and Mobile Association of India found that there has been a 50% increase after 2012 in Facebook use, 33 million in Twitter and 20 million on LinkedIn. Social media being the next being frontier is definitely unavoidable and has become an imperative part of a holistic marketing strategy benefiting businesses reducing costs and improving customer services. Corporate and B-schools give latest promoting strategies and marketing strategies through social media. Read more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/socialmedia-updates/india-records-highest-social-networking-growth-study/article1-1244761.aspx 

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There are many parts to a customer service strategy. The benefits of social media is overlooked. In today's world, an existence on social media is as important as having a toll-free phone number. Here are just a few of the reasons why. The benefits of two-way brand engagement. Customers like it when commerce shares information, instructions, thoughts, and humor across social media.  Social media an addition of contact data: clients remain for  reply to their comments or distress fast. Pinch complaints in the sprout with ease: ignoring  social media won't discontinue clients from talking on Twitter or Facebook.  Spot trends as -- or before -- they occur: Responsive brands pay close notice to what consumers are discussing about in order to mark movement before it's too late. have additional admission to customers: Social media conduit shouldn't be measured an publicity prospect. . Read more at:

http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/how-social-media-impacts-customer-service

Big data is very much in rage these days and social media networks are some of the largest sources of big data. There are billions of posts, connections and shares which can be analyzed. Buried in this social data are insights that can help to progress advertising and give the aggressive edge. It can be expensive and take a lot of time to analyze social data.What are the benefits we are looking to achieve- Improving audience, positive feedback and praise, more engagement in conversations, better understanding of our target audience,converting people to customers and doing better than our competitors. Read more at: 

http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/how-use-social-analytics-improve-your-performance

Realizing the rising importance of social media in any business every brand needs fourteen tools to make things simpler. They are: 1. Visual Google analytics report: this app creates a custom infographic of the company’s website activity and performances from complicated Google data. It delivers straight to the company’s inbox- the reasons for its win so that it can improve next time. 2. TweetDeck: it is a twitter based management tool gives one an overall aspect of their profile and also customizes the display and reduces navigation problems.

3. HootSuite: this app allows to manage multiple social media profiles at the same time. It allows to delegate between responses to fans and followers and responses coordination of responses and potentially overlooking fans is not required. But it has a backdrop of not being able to make images appear.

4. Sprout Social: it cleans interface and a dashboard built around six tabs, namely home, messages, feeds, publishing, discovery and reports. It suggests people to follow and schedules updates in advance.

5. Crowdbooster: it streamlines and schedules posts for twitter and Facebook, reminds followers one has not responded to and lists recent influential followers. It also directs growth and engagement metrics.

6. Twitter showdown: it compares twitter accounts of two industries and compares two competitors by finding the follower to following ratio, level of tweet engagement, mentions per tweet, tweet timing etc.

7. Edgerank Checker: it helps to understand how followers interact with each post by assigning a score and makes recommendations to assist future posts. 8. Buffer: A useful tool for small businesses with less time and resource. It helps to schedule posts and makes sharing easier but is not applicable for monitoring discussions. 

9. SocialBro: it provides insight to analytics, suggestions for targeting and engagement and highlights the key influencers and competitors. 10. Postling: it tracks responses, brands and people. Every mention of one’s brand is tracked easily. 11. Tailwind: it tracks your company, product and competitors and most profitable activities.

12. Social Mention: it scrapes user generated content across internet, and recent relevant results and metrics.

13. Shoutlet: it helps companies to understand its market, grow on social database and supplies all customers and fans need. 14. Argyle Social: it establishes the most valuable content ensuring efforts and value to marketing strategies. Read more at: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/231851

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Social media changes and news are annoying, customs to conquer them. Here’s how:1. expand an incorporated marketing plan. Social media shouldn’t be our only online promotion conduit.  Balance our merge with actions such as electronic mail marketing, guest blogging or search engine marketing. Along with digital marketing, leverage conventional advertising approaches such as networking, product demos ,seminars, and tradeshows. 2. employ it as a produce catalogue. Utilize communal media to give clients an appropriate guide. As per  to  marketer, 37% of US buyers use societal media to explore brands or services that they're trading. This regards that clients be going on companies’ Facebook, Pinterest, or LinkedIn pages to study about the profit and features of their gifts and balance them with opposing brand. 3. Leverage to stay in regulars remind sets. 44% of Twitter users not at all tweet or most LinkedIn users don’t interrelate with brand on LinkedIn.

Read more at:http://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/how-overcome-social-media%E2%80%99s-most-frustrating-challenges-1

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 Social media marketers have invested a huge contract of time, force and attempt in creating completely crafted tweets to followers -to spread knowledge and share substance related to their brand. Recently, however, a Gallup Poll revealed that a majority of Americans believe social media have no effect at all on their purchasing decisions. According to a survey, 62% of public in the U.S. e.g.Facebook and Twitter, do not have any influence on their choice to buy goods and services. Only 30% said social media have some influence and a much smaller 5% said they have a great deal of influence. Nielsen data showed that 92% of people trust recommendations from their networks, posts shared after associations with a brand in the form of social word of mouth. This doesn't mean that these people are easily control and falling victim to marketer's "set-ups.Read more at:

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/grea Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 t-debate-how-does-social-word-mouth-influence-purchasing-decisions

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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

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First imitation generates outlook, and potential die hard. Forecast building their first contact with the company should immediately decide that they are in the right place. 2. All consumers are not shaped alike: Some clients price relationships and personal interactions. Others value effectiveness, charge and time savings, soothe and avoid ache. 3. Express company’s price plan in the lot we do. All of our communications with clients must respond two questions: What do they actually purchase from my brand, and why should they procure it from my business? Patrons who are reminding of our business’s rate remain devoted. 4. Do extra than produce our point: We must also speak in traditions to which our buyer is attracted.Supply several channel for consumers to express their opinion. 5. Recognize why clients abscond. Superior CRM shines a limelight on client leaves, probing for ways to advance and evils to repair

Read more at:

http://www.crm-guru.com/

WhatsApp and Snapchat being simple and ubiquitous are now the perfect crossroads of mobile and social media. A new study suggests that in spite of forcing the top five global digital platforms namely Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft to evolve. Apps like Line and WhatsApp have still not been able to reach a massive scale yet. Mobile and social strategies of majority marketers being immature are being unable to utilize the growing opportunities properly and bring a clear return. In reality these messaging apps at the cross road of mobile and social only complicate the challenge according to Thomas Husson. New developments are being made recently to have a frictionless mode of communication but the idea is still new and yet to be successful. Read more at: http://www.cio.com/article/2454370/social-media/are-messaging-apps-the-future-of-social-networking.html

Consumers these days are using social media for communications. Mention of brand names is done in huge numbers among which 76 percent mentions were neutral, 17.6 percent were positive and 5.8 percent were negative. . Majority of the neutral mentions comprises of queries about the company’s process and products.

Apart from increasing engagement, building brand awareness and marketing this study has been found to play a major role in customer service.  The names of companies are mentioned on social media more on weekdays than on weekends. Moreover most posts are mentioned in English followed by French and Spanish. Thus social media is a tool for global communication and social mentions increases exposure. Read more at:http://www.mobilemarketingwatch.com/social-media-equals-modern-day-customer-service-43281/

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