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Richard Corley

The place to connect when it comes to social networks and social marketing. Offers the latest news, strategies and best practices to help you succeed and create a strong brand identity in social.

Lead generation strategies for newly launched products

What is the most important part of launching a new product? Is it the product itself? Is it having enough stock? How about an incredibly slick and well-designed product page?



No. the most important thing when launching a new product is that you’ve got a fully functioning and well-thought-out lead generation strategy ready to go. You can have the best product in the world, beautifully displayed in the universe’s most well-designed product page, but if you haven’t got a way to get people to the product, you just aren’t going to do as well as you want to.



People in the marketing biz talk a lot about lead generation, and they should – but if you’re a small business owner just launching a new line or you’re only just entering the field, it can be hard to understand what they’re actually talking about. So, what is lead generation, and what are the best lead generation strategies for newly launched products?



What is lead generation?



Lead generation is just that, generating leads. It’s getting consumers to take an interest in your product or service and leading them to make a purchase or enquiry as a result. When a product becomes well established, the lead generation settles into itself and gets helped along by other customers’ reviews and recommendations – but with a new product, it takes thought and planning to make sure the right people are seeing your products at the right time.



What are some lead generation techniques?



Some of the most basic lead generation techniques are things you probably have heard of but perhaps didn’t realized they’re part of lead generation. For example, marketers talk a lot about SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, which improves your ranking on Google and therefore gets more customers’ eyes on your site. Other techniques include effective use of social media, blogging, and online marketing videos.



Which techniques are best for newly launched products?



Creating a compelling landing page



We may have made fun of the well-designed website at the expense of all else earlier – but having a well-designed website is essential for lead generation, especially when launching a new product. The mistake many people make is focusing on aesthetics rather than function. While visual design is certainly important and helps to establish your brand, what you need to focus on is designing a website that leads your customer from the information to the product to the checkout screen smoothly. A poor user experience is a huge barrier to people actually completing a purchase or enquiry.



The best way to combat this is to create a compelling landing page, rather than a pretty one. Creating a landing page that makes people want to click that next button and move forward with this product is the best lead generation you’re going to get. Luckily this isn’t something you have to spend thousands of dollars on with a pro designer – there are so many tools out there nowadays, you can happily use a landing page creator when building your website and avoid spending the big bucks.



Utilize your existing base



Remember all the work you put into gathering a base of customer email addresses? And remember those weekly email blasts you send out with news about the company, to those who have subscribed? This is where it all pays off.



This is the perfect platform to use to get your new product out there. These is a list of people who are already interested in you and what you have to offer – they are almost infinitely more likely to actually engage with a new product release than a brand new customer. While most of your energy should go towards generating new leads and attracting new customers to your brand, you would be smart to utilize your existing loyal customers when it comes to lead generation for a newly launched product.



Show off your research



Having a white paper written on the background, context, or efficacy of your product is a surprisingly great way to generate leads. Although it’s not the most sparkly method of marketing a product, many new products have to wait months for enough good reviews to build up that it gives them a good reputation – have a well written and well-researched white paper showing how and why your product is useful and relevant establishes that authority right out of the gate, so even right at the beginning customers can feel assured of the quality of the product without reviews.



So to recap, there are a huge number of ways to generate leads, from indirect lead generation that comes from blogging and SEO to more direct lead generation that comes from email marketing and well-designed landing pages. For newly launched products, what gets people interested is obviously quality, authority, and a good user experience. So, for a new product launch make sure you have designed a compelling landing page that generates sales, that you make use of your existing customer base, and that you have the research and value of your new product right in the customer’s line of sight



The post Lead generation strategies for newly launched products appeared first on Social Media Explorer.



Original source: https://socialmediaexplorer.com/search-engine-optimization-2/lead-generation-strategies-for-newly-launched-products/



The post Lead generation strategies for newly launched products appeared first on connect social networks.







via Connect Social Networks http://connectsocialnetworks.com/lead-generation-strategies-for-newly-launched-products/

Social Media and Its Influence On Home Decor

Home décor has been a famous consumer activity market for a decade now. The increase in the home décor market increases significantly, including the rising economies where domestic accessories and related merchandise gain high acceptance in the home décor mark this issue in the domestic décor market is estimated to amplify at some stage in the projection length due to the greater of the true property business enterprise in the large cities and the transformation from frequent to city dwelling.



The existence of manufacturers on conventional social media has grown to be unavoidable. However, having a mere existence is no longer enough. The formal company web page or the take care of wishes to signify the target audience’s central price and consumers.



These factors vary from brand to brand, but exact essentials continue to be continuous. For example, content on a home décor company will be diverse to a fashion brand. Though the basic components of content formation will continue to be the same, the last product will be closely influenced via the goal audience of a unique brand.



Impact of websites



Social media has modified the domestic diagram and decor industry. Websites like DNA11 are being used with DIY house owners and expert designers alike, so the imparting world gets entry to resources and permits searchers to tap into superb Genius through social media conversations and groups. The days of flipping through sample books and plan magazines, and searching at DIY TV shows, are fading into obscurity.



DNA11 has revolutionized the concept market, and it affects domestic decor. Most of the famous domestic decor websites in the maximum receive referrals through websites bring dozens of extraordinary structure patterns in your dwelling room. From an easy DIY notion for your garage to designing your complete apartment, DNA11 has it all.



Social media is influencing our dream homes by altering the way we dream about them! For starters, social media has kindled an interest in aesthetics and design. People across the world now have the right to entry to extraordinary assets when designing their very own living spaces. Social media, and its tools, let them experiment with colors, patterns and finishes – frequently for free. These websites have become THE region for humans to draw inspiration and find ways to make their residences a manifestation of their personality.



Stats



44% of house owners aged 18-44 use social networks, such as Pinterest or Instagram, like planning tasks to choose home enhancement suggests and TV networks like HGTV. Correlated to the 29% of house owners forty-five and over who answered similarly would show off that this turn to social media is a generational shift. Additionally, the discovery out positioned 52% to take the 50/50 DIY approach. A domestic renovation challenge would possibly select to paint their house; however, it would depart things like plumbing and electrical strength to the professionals.



And when it comes to renovating their space, 36% of contributors said an alternative to a kitchen or bathtub would be a priority. The one difficulty that’s stayed identical notwithstanding social media’s upward push in influence? Money. 61% of these surveyed stated that they determine funds earlier than tackling any domestic enhancement venture.



Social Media apps



Today, we have Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, among many distinctive social media shops placing our vision immediately in front of us. We scroll through social media and see pics of our dream kitchen or our great bedroom. We spot the so that it would fit flawlessly in the living room or a bench that, in the end, fits the mudroom.



Rather than having to go to a friend’s house, to the department store, or even venturing beyond your bedroom, you can sketch your dream home in a few minutes with a few easy clicks and swipes of your finger on. The home industry has exploded in the previous few years.



Social Media influence



Social media has also allowed organizations to tune how many human beings are involved in positive products or services through likes, retweets, and pins. Stores can submit their products to clients instantly, which lets followers see every new product as it arrives. With online selections being simply available, fewer humans are coming into stores to seem to be at products.



However, it permits clients to show enterprises exactly what they are looking for when they arrive in the store, simplifying the shopping procedure and cutting down on the time clients need to spend. Social media posts additionally help customers find well-matched objects by displaying matters related to their searches and likes. This additionally helps organizations to join with customers and customize their shopping experience.



Resource for Humans



Social media can also be held in charge of the main enlarge in the range of humans interested in aesthetics and design. Social media has furnished human beings with greater resources to design their residences and acquire their preferred look. People can spend countless hours looking through lots of design thoughts from the alleviation of their homes, inspiring them to redesign their residences regularly.



Years ago, we would get our domestic to our “ideal” and go away it that way for several years. People are fast to follow and look out for home décor trends, consistently re-doing rooms to shape their modern find. Social media has also motivated human beings to share greater which helps to affect one-of-a-kind design trends.



The post Social Media and Its Influence On Home Decor appeared first on Social Media Explorer.



Original source: https://socialmediaexplorer.com/social-media-research-2/social-media-and-its-influence-on-home-decor/



The post Social Media and Its Influence On Home Decor appeared first on connect social networks.







via Connect Social Networks http://connectsocialnetworks.com/social-media-and-its-influence-on-home-decor/

Weekend Favs April 24

Weekend Favs April 24 written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing



My weekend blog post routine includes posting links to a handful of tools or great content I ran across during the week.



I don’t go into depth about the finds, but encourage you to check them out if they sound interesting. The photo in the post is a favorite for the week from an online source or one that I took out there on the road.





Highly– A social media share tooltip to boost interactions with your content and increase post shares.


Piktochart -Turn one video into multiple content pieces. Automatically convert video to text and edit like a document. Download & share on social media. Start for free!


Reedsy– Reedsy allows authors to find and work with the best publishing professionals: from developmental editors to book cover designers, publicists and translators.




These are my weekend favs, I would love to hear about some of yours – Tweet me @ducttape



Original source: https://ducttapemarketing.com/weekend-favs-april-24/



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via Connect Social Networks http://connectsocialnetworks.com/weekend-favs-april-24/

How To Adapt And Thrive In The Hard Hit Travel And Tourism Industry

How To Adapt And Thrive In The Hard Hit Travel And Tourism Industry written by Sara Nay read more at Duct Tape Marketing















Agency Spark Podcast with With Darryl Leniuk









The Agency Spark Podcast, hosted by Sara Nay, is a collection of interviews from thought leaders in the marketing consultancy and agency space. Each episode is designed to spark ideas you can put into practice for your agency today.



In this episode of the Agency Spark Podcast, Sara interviews Darryl Leniuk. Darryl has been in the Duct Tape Marketing Network for 3 years now. He comes from a background as a journalist and his niche is tourism marketing and public relations. He’s passionate about helping premium tour operators, adventure travel businesses and outdoor brands drive sales with strategic online marketing and powerful storytelling. With nearly two decades’ experience working in travel media, he brings a powerful skillset to the table. Aventur Marketing’s strategy-before-tactics approach has helped grow tourism businesses around the world, with industry-leading digital marketing tactics and public relations.



Questions Sara asks Darryl Leniuk:







What influenced you to launch your own marketing agency?


How are able to use your background in the travel and tourism industry as a marketing consultant today?


How do you help your clients uncover their unique story to tell?


With COVID greatly impacting your niche, what did 2020 look like for your clients?


How have your clients marketing efforts changed since the pandemic?


How do you see COVID impacting the tourism industry long-term?


Can you walk me through the different phases of your client process?


When do you incorporate metrics and tracking into working with clients?


How often do you communicate with your clients on the different metrics?


Is there anything you know now that you wish you would’ve known when you were first getting started?




Learn more about Darryl Leniuk:





Company website: Aventur Marketing


LinkedIn Profile












This episode of the Agency Spark Podcast is brought to you by Airborne, a sales engagement platform. Learn more about how to set your team up for success at Airborneapp.io. Sales Engagement Platforms are fundamental to the Modern Tech Stack. Airborne delivers everything you would expect from a Sales Engagement Platform and then some. Get the most out of every interaction and make your team more effective with Airborne.







Original source: https://ducttapemarketing.com/adapt-and-thrive-in-the-travel-and-tourism-industry/



The post How To Adapt And Thrive In The Hard Hit Travel And Tourism Industry appeared first on connect social networks.







via Connect Social Networks http://connectsocialnetworks.com/how-to-adapt-and-thrive-in-the-hard-hit-travel-and-tourism-industry/

Social Media Marketing: 10 Trends in Social Networks That Will Mark 2021

In 2020 the world had to take a big leap forward in digitization and many sectors had to adapt including marketing and communication. Fueled by the constant evolution of technology social networks benefit from an endless stream of new trends features and platforms. After a year under the onslaught of a global pandemic the trends are changing. More than ever social networks are a link to animate its community and even expand it. Thanks to them you will be able to generate more and better-qualified traffic you will be able to attract new targets and retain your customers. However to achieve this you must also take into account new trends. In this blog post we review 10 social media trends for 2021. 10 Social Media Marketing Trends for 2021 Social networks have become a very important pillar of digital marketing. It is difficult to find a marketing strategy that does not include the use of social networks (Instagram Facebook Twitter LinkedIn ) However for the use of social networks to be effective and the strategies implemented to be solid it is vital to know the factors that will shape these platforms during 2021: Social Selling Social selling is not just the creation of social media profiles by your marketing and sales teams. Social selling is a process of finding selecting listening to and interacting with potential prospects through social media. It makes it possible to detect accelerate and/or develop business. In recent years the use of Social Selling has grown a lot promoting electronic commerce within social networks. This without a doubt marks the future and trends of social media since it helps that users of social networks do not have to leave a platform to make a purchase. And not only this. From 2020 we will be able to see how different social networks launch new e-commerce functions so that companies can sell their products as for example Instagram Shopping did. The recent explosion in social selling reminds us that shopping has always been a social experience. And given the wealth of opportunities for brands today to make sales social feeds are fast becoming the more modern way than to get to the mall. Use of Audiovisual Content Audiovisual content will continue to top the list of main trends in social networks during 2021. Some experts already predict that about 80% of the content we consume will be video in the coming years. The main reasons why video is positioned as one of the great trends are the following: audiovisual content is much more attractive and also because nowadays it is easy to do with medium and high-quality smartphones. You know video is the queen of the web! It is found everywhere: on websites social networks YouTube-type hosts marketing campaigns; and for your content to have a chance of being seen by the most people you must optimize it according to the algorithms of each platform. Each channel has its preferred codes and formats and this year the algorithms will be even more demanding. The trend is towards VSEO (Video Search Engine Optimization). This practice refers to optimizing audiovisual content to make it stand out highest in search results. Use of Artificial Intelligence AI is gaining importance in content marketing. It makes it possible to target an increasingly precise audience but also to create content. This latest trend is expected to take hold in 2021. While machines are still struggling to replace humans when it comes to pure writing AI tools like Copy.AI are already helping to prepare advertisements or newsletters. Online background removal tools also help create images that can be used for social media marketing campaigns. Artificial intelligence is therefore becoming a powerful ally for publishing content on a large scale and ensuring global visibility. Collaborating with Micro-influencers and Virtual influencers In 2021 two important figures in the world of social networks are expected to occupy an important place: micro-influencers and virtual influencers. Virtual influencers are humanoids who are succeeding on social media. A clear example is Lil Miquela a virtual influencer who has already been trusted by major brands in the world of fashion. These influencers not being human do not make mistakes or get carried away by emotions which is why brands trust them so much. The phenomenon of micro or nano-influencers is not new but continues to develop at a rapid pace. With a more limited but also more targeted audience and thanks to their level of engagement often higher than influencers with a greater number of followers micro or nano-influencers are ultimately more influential. On the other hand because these influencers create their own content and directly manage their accounts they are able to convey a more personal and authentic tone that resonates with their followers. Its also easier for brands to get in touch with them. In 2020 46.4% of brand mentions with the hashtag #ad were posted by Instagram accounts with between 1000 and 20000 followers (classified as micro-influencers). In 2021 HypeAuditor predicts that more brands will collaborate with micro-influencers and the paid placement share featuring #ad will increase to 50%. As a result with brands opting for more sophisticated partnering strategies influencers will specialize more on a particular topic. Thus influencers developing more generic content will become scarce. Instant Messaging Advertising WhatsApps announcement that in 2020 it would begin to include advertising in the app has generated great excitement and expectation due to the accumulation of opportunities and avant-garde that this represents. The challenge is great because although Facebook and Instagram already have the stories feature it is true that WhatsApp is an app of a different nature and use so it will be necessary to find a way to encourage the user to constantly visit this section; there are still a lot of people who never take a tour of this section. On the other hand as we know Facebook Messenger already has different advertising formats that range from sponsored messages messages sent by brands with which the user has already interacted in addition to Facebook ads with a button to start a conversation via Messenger to request more information. In addition to advertisements brands can give other uses to instant messaging applications (WhatsApp Facebook Messenger or Telegram) in the same way that email marketing or SMS marketing campaigns are carried out; that is creating a subscriber database to send them regular communications that add value. Among the brands that have already engaged in these practices with great success are KLM Airlines and Hellmanns. Augmented Reality Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the most exciting social media trends nowadays. This technology is not only limited to games. It is also applied in different applications both desktop and mobile eCommerce and in product marketing. Spark AR by Facebook is an upcoming social media content creator that enables you to create and apply AR filters for your social media posts. It is a powerful tool designed for the Facebook camera and allows you to distribute it to other social media platforms like Instagram and Messenger. You can check out the latest experiments and filters for this tool through joining Spark ARs community on Facebook. Virtual reality Virtual Reality creates a different experience compared to AR as it requires one to immerse into a completely different world or environment. By letting consumers virtually experience a product place or a devices functionality it can enhance significantly their interest and makes your product more exciting and share-worthy. Good VR technology investments can surely amplify your social media presence. This video by Mbryonic enumerates some of the most exciting VR marketing campaigns that you can also take inspiration from and apply on your own marketing campaigns. User-generated content Relying on the content of followers has many advantages for companies. Among them it stands out that they generate greater trust and this has an impact on engagement. Dont confuse this trend with the influencers trend. In this case we are referring to fans of a brand who publish their opinion about the brand about a product or service etc. Because of the reputation of devices like Reels from Instagram or Stitch from TikTok UGC(User Generated Content) has attained a higher degree of personalization. Thanks to these tools which have removed technical barriers anyone can easily remix or adapt content from other users and share it on networks to express their ideas opinions and points of view. As a brand you should make things easier for your audience create content that can be mixed and provide your brand resources to users. Personalization To offer customers what they want personalization will prevail throughout 2021. Social listening allows companies to know the reputation of the brand and above all the mentions that users make of their brand and products. All this allows the services and products to be offered to the client in a more personalized and effective way. This is the case of search engines with recommendations. One of the clearest examples of personalization can be found in the content catalog that Netflix offers its users with which it recommends series and movies based on the content they consume. Personalized marketing is also applied through the sending of emails based on user behavior. That email that you receive in your mail reminding you that you have left several items in the basket and that you are one click away from getting them. Tools based on artificial intelligence allow you to reach high levels of customization. Although if you want to start with simple tools that allow you to identify capture and interact with your users you can bet on online marketing campaigns. For example surveys quizzes voting etc. Social welfare With social welfare the study refers to the awareness that is generated about the impact of social networks on our mental health. According to the statistics of the analysis this year there were 78.0K conversations about well-being on social networks. In fact National Disconnection Day garnered more than 3.3K mentions (the use of the #DigitalDetox hashtag should be noted). This is also related to one of the novelties of the year and that is that Instagram is already trying to hide the likes to avoid the pressure of the exposure of popularity among users. Increased awareness of the link between social media and mental health means that users are more aware of what they allow to influence them and more skeptical than before. (Jualia Bramble from Bramblebuzz.co.uk). Our challenge as brands in the networks is to avoid toxicity content saturation and consequently misinformation; but also draw the attention of our followers promoting a healthier life. Quality will be the protagonist over quantity. The Power of Social Media Social networks like Facebook Instagram Twitter and Pinterest etc. are gradually establishing themselves as intermediaries between the media and their readers. Here we have 5 points that display the power of social media: Social Media as a Marketing Channel There are several ways on how this can be. Market research brand recognition lead generation relationship development customer service etc. These are the best ways that social media can help people and organizations connect online to share information and ideas. While networks like Facebook Twitter and LinkedIn are not the oldest form of social networks they definitely define them now. These channels started as relatively simple services but these days since the mobile internet innovation these systems have transformed into focal points that change every facet of modern life from checking the news posting holiday photos to browsing for jobs and careers into a communal encounter. If youre not already using these core networks as part of your social media marketing plan or looking for ideas to improve your existing strategy youll find a wealth of information in our guides for Facebook Twitter and LinkedIn. Social Media as Multimedia Content Exchange Networks Media sharing networks offer people and brands a place to find and share media content online including photos video and live video. The distinction with social sharing communities from social media is still blurry since social networks such as Twitter and Facebook add augmented reality live video among other media utilities to their program. However what distinguishes media content sharing networks is that media content sharing is their defining and primary goal. Similarly on sites like YouTube and Vimeo video is the primary mode of communication. When determining whether or not your business needs to establish a presence on a media sharing network it is important to consider your available resources. If its that one element that very successful platforms like Instagram and YouTube have in their arsenal its a well-planned objective and meticulously mapped multimedia resources that strictly follow a specific theme. Social Media as a Platform for Information Exchange These networks can be excellent resources for market research. If used properly you can also advertise on them although you will need to be careful to separate your ads and posts. Discussion boards are one of the oldest forms of social media. Before we connected with our first friends from college on Facebook we would talk about pop culture current issues and ask for help on forums. Observe the massive widespread consumer rates on forums such as Quora Reddit and Digg. You will discover that the populaces desire for cumulative information and insight remains steadfast. Social Media as Bookmark Networks and Content Organizers These networks can be highly effective in driving brand awareness customer engagement and website traffic. Content organizing and bookmarking networks help people discover save share and analyze new and popular new content and multimedia. These networks are a breeding ground for creativity and inspiration for people looking for information and ideas and by adding them to your social media marketing plan you will open new channels to generate brand recognition and engagement with your audience and customers. Social Media as Consumer Review Networks Positive reviews present social proof of claims. If they are taken care of well you can solve the problems of dissatisfied customers. Consumer review networks give people a place to comment on brands companies products services tourist spots and just about anything. Consumer reviews through social media networks go one step further by creating networks around the review as a fundamental part of the value they provide. Your Turn: So far the digital marketing trends for 2021 seem to revolve around two different but almost contradictory concepts. First it is a general improvement focusing on real problems and adapting content to cater to the individual for more intimate engagement rather than mass allure. The second is a much more mechanical and technical optimization tweaking areas behind the scenes like SEO and the way campaigns are structured. Above weve covered 10 of the hottest social media trends for the year 2021 to give you an edge over your competition. Take these marketing trends to heart and consider them when you design your own digital marketing strategy for the new year. Author Bio: Yen Pedrajas is an eCommerce and digital marketing writer who loves to share ideas and create strategies about social media and content marketing for start-ups small and medium businesses. Read her work at Medium.Currently she manages public relations for Removal.AI an AI-powered technology that can automatically remove image background and a photo editing software used for photo editing ideally for eCommerce printing and all other app and web development purposes. The post Social Media Marketing: 10 Trends in Social Networks That Will Mark 2021 appeared first on Social Media Explorer. Original source: https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/news-and-noise/social-media-marketing-10-trends-in-social-networks-that-will-mark-2021/ The post Social Media Marketing: 10 Trends in Social Networks That Will Mark 2021 appeared first on connect social networks. via Connect Social Networks http://connectsocialnetworks.com/social-media-marketing-10-trends-in-social-networks-that-will-mark-2021/

The Modern Guide to Public Relations in 2021

The Modern Guide to Public Relations in 2021 written by John Jantsch read more at Duct Tape Marketing







Marketing Podcast with Amy Rosenberg







In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I interview Amy Rosenberg. Amy learned PR in the trenches — working her way up from intern to management at two marketing agencies before starting her own PR firm, Veracity. As the firm’s president, she oversees the blending of digital strategies with classic PR tactics to favorably position clients both online and in traditional media. Amy created her podcast, PR Talk, sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America (Oregon), in 2017 and has hosted more than 100 episodes so that PR people can better learn the craft.













Key Takeaway:



Public Relations has changed over the years. Blasting things out doesn’t work anymore and the industry needs quick changes to keep up. With newsrooms dwindling worldwide, it’s now more important than ever for PR professionals to learn how to gain press coverage through performing traditional media functions.



Oftentimes, marketing and PR are lumped into one category. In this episode, Amy Rosenberg talks about the state of PR in 2021 from her point of view. Amy demystifies the differences between marketing and PR and how the two can work together to produce optimal results.



Questions I Ask Amy Rosenberg:





[0:40] What’s the current state of PR from your perspective?


[3:42] What particular skill set or particular point of view would a PR person bring to the table?


[4:02] If I were trying to hire for my team, how would I distinguish between a marketing person and a PR person?


[5:20] How has the art of trying to get placement or publicity changed?


[7:20] What’s the message you want the target audience of your book to hear?


[9:20] Do you have some tools or special ways that you like to find what might be some of the niches like blogs, podcasts, or publications that really are frankly going to be maybe more useful for somebody than the New York Times today?


[12:12] How do you tie into the news or to a trend, or how do you at least have that mindset of mining for opportunities?


[14:06] How do you walk the line of promoting your community involvement, but also maybe feeling a little self-serving in the process?


[16:24] What do you tell people who are trying to get started in PR or a business owner trying to learn about it, how they might learn how to do PR for their career or organization effectively?






More About Amy Rosenberg:





Her company: Vericity Agency


Her book: A Modern Guide to Public Relations: Unveiling the Mystery of PR


Her podcast: PR Talks




More About The Certified Marketing Manager Program Powered by Duct Tape Marketing







Like this show? Click on over and give us a review on iTunes, please!







This episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Monday.com.



There are a lot of tools out there to help companies get work done. We recently switched over to a tool called Monday, and we love it. Monday is more than just a project management tool. You can use it in many ways to run your entire business, marketing, sales, task management, even recruiting, and certainly project management. Check it out yourself here.







Original source: https://ducttapemarketing.com/the-modern-guide-to-public-relations-in-2021/



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TikTok is Changing How We Consume Media: Heres How to Integrate TikTok to Your Video Marketing Strategy in 2021

Anyone in the social media marketing field is used to change. However perhaps theres never been such a dramatically abrupt change in the social media landscape as the emergence of TikTok in the past few years. After slowly gaining traction with younger audiences during its American debut in 2017 the platforms popularity has exploded year over year. In 2020 alone TikTok had more than half a billion active users worldwide including over 100 million from the United States. The TikTok boom has introduced new challenges but also new opportunities for social media marketers. Now brands have an entirely new channel to engage with a young growing and passionate audience. Marketing on TikTok can present unique requirements compared to more established platforms but it can become a powerful part of any effective social media strategy when leveraged appropriately. If youre looking to tap into the massive potential of the TikTok platform here are all the basics you need to know to develop an actionable strategy. SoWhat Is TikTok Anyway? Lets start things with the basics. TikTok is a social platform available on iOS and Android where users can post short videos of themselves typically no more than one minute long. Think of it as the continuation of the now-defunct Vine without that apps signature seven-second time limit. TikTok videos can encompass everything from music videos to dances to lifehacks to vlogsthe list goes on. Its an incredibly versatile platform: it might have started life as a music app similar to Musical.ly but its evolved to become so much more. TikTok lovers continue to push boundaries creating just about every kind of short-form video content imaginable on the platform. Why Target TikTok? Maybe you already have successful video marketing strategies lined up for other social platforms like Facebook Twitter or Instagram. You might be wondering why should you put time and resources into TikTok? Simply put targeting TikTok in your social media strategy allows you to tap into a vast and growing platform passionately used by a young and diverse audience. Its not a passing fad either despite numerous attempts to take it down TikTok is projected to enjoy continued growth for years to come. TikTok might have a reputation as teenagers platform of choice but in reality the apps users are hugely varied. While teenagers and adolescents make up a third of the apps audience another third is over the age of 30 giving marketers access to a vast audience from many walks of life. Marketers who have already capitalized on TikToks rapid expansion have seen noticeable benefits for themselves. TikTok has one of the highest rates of user engagement of any social media app meaning that brands who establish a presence on the app can foster a more connected audience. Organizations that have taken part in the TikTok craze are already seeing the benefits for themselves. Brands like EA Games and LOreal developed specialized hashtags and videos for the platform that have gone on to accumulate tens of billions of views and thats just one example out of many. How Do You Use TikTok In Your Social Media Strategy? Successful marketing on TikTok has to be a little different than other platforms. You cant recycle the same text posts or videos you use on Twitter and Facebook. Instead when youre looking to market your brand on TikTok you need to create entirely original content with one goal in mind: going viral. Youll need to make your videos laser-focused on grabbing users attention and growing engagement with your brand. It can be tough to accomplish at first but its a manageable goal by following a few simple tips. Keep these actionable pieces of advice in mind when you set out to integrate TikTok into your marketing campaign. Keep things (very) short and sweet. Its always good to be concise as a general rule of thumb but on TikTok its a necessity. You only have a minute to present your video and with millions of other TikToks vying for users attention you need to make that time count. Create your videos to be punchy brief and to the point. Try to open with something that immediately hooks your audience whether thats flashy colors or zany humor. Stay trendy. Trends are essential for any social platform and TikTok is no different. Keep a close eye on the trends tab on the app; if you see a trending hashtag or challenge thats relevant to your brand jump on it as quickly as you can. Capitalizing on trends is a great way to reach audiences that wouldnt engage with your brand otherwise. Be creative. TikTok is home to billions of videos with millions more added every day. If you want yours to stand out then its critical to think outside the box. Follow trends but make sure you put your own spin on them. Your brand has a unique identity and your social content should always reflect that. Sometimes the riskiest ideas are the most successful when it comes to social growth and engagement so let your creative juices flow when youre making TikToks. Focus on information. Contrary to what you might think TikTok isnt all about memes and silly dances. Some of the platforms most popular and engaging videos are all about sharing helpful or informative content. Your brand can do the same thing by creating TikToks that quickly and simply walk your viewers through a procedure whether thats tossing pizza dough jumping a car or any other activity relevant to your business. Make your own hashtags. Theres nothing stopping you from making your own trends! You can expand brand awareness by developing specialized hashtags and creating TikToks supporting them. Doing so can increase brand familiarity and if you end up with a viral hit on your hands dramatically boost brand loyalty. How Do You Develop a TikTok Social Strategy? Its one thing to make great TikToks but its something else entirely to know how to market them. Its essential to have a clear-cut formal strategy in place when you start developing your TikTok social media plans. Consider the following elements of a successful TikTok strategy. Keep your goals in mind. You should have concrete objectives for TikTok marketing whether they include generating leads driving sales growing social followers or anything else. Having goals will help you stay focused and measure your success. Upload consistently. You can maintain interest in your TikTok efforts by implementing a regular upload schedule which can also help you retain an audience and build a following. Dedicate resources. It might be tempting to take a budget approach to TikTok marketing but thats simply not fair. Like any other marketing channel TikTok has serious potential to increase profits and boost your brands reputation. Make sure that you set aside enough resources to explore TikTok thoroughly. Watch your analytics. You can always ensure that your TikTok strategy stays on the right track by eying your analytics and checking that you meet your desired benchmarks in terms of engagements shares or impressions. TikTok might be the new kid on the block for social media marketing but theres no denying its possibilities. Taking the plunge to invest resources in TikTok marketing can feel like a major risk but by going with it one step at a time you can eventually reap the results. Author Bio: Torrey Tayenaka Torrey Tayenaka is the co-founder and CEO at Sparkhouse an Orange County based video production agency. He is often asked to contribute expertise in publications like Entrepreneur Single Grain and Forbes. Sparkhouse is known for transforming video marketing and advertising into real conversations. Rather than hitting the consumer over the head with blatant ads Sparkhouse creates interesting entertaining and useful videos that enrich the lives of his clients customers. In addition to Sparkhouse Torrey has also founded the companies Eva Smart Shower Litehouse amp; Forge54. The post TikTok is Changing How We Consume Media: Heres How to Integrate TikTok to Your Video Marketing Strategy in 2021 appeared first on Social Media Explorer. Original source: https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/news-and-noise/tiktok-is-changing-how-we-consume-media-heres-how-to-integrate-tiktok-to-your-video-marketing-strategy-in-2021/ The post TikTok is Changing How We Consume Media: Heres How to Integrate TikTok to Your Video Marketing Strategy in 2021 appeared first on connect social networks. via Connect Social Networks http://connectsocialnetworks.com/tiktok-is-changing-how-we-consume-media-heres-how-to-integrate-tiktok-to-your-video-marketing-strategy-in-2021/

What To Know About Keyword Research

The goal of any SEO strategy

should be to rank as highly in Google as you can. The closer you can get to the

top of search results, the better for you. Only around 2 to 3% of people visit

the second page of any Google search. In total, most Google searches last less than

60 seconds.



When your page ranks in the top

few search results organically, you’re more likely to get a click. Further, if

you organically rank number one for a search result, you’re ten times more

likely to get a click than a page that ranks 10th.



So how do you get to that coveted

number one spot?



There are a lot of ranking

factors used by Google, but the foundation of a lot of how well your site or

content ranks relies on using

the right keywords to guide your content.



Your keywords are typically

actually phrases rather than single words, and they describe what’s on your

page or post.



When people are searching for

that phrase or keyword, then they’ll be guided to your content.



Using the right keywords serves

as an indicator to Google as to what’s important, and it helps the search

engine learn more about what your page is about.



At the same time, with your

keywords, you can’t just think about Google. You also have to think about your

targeted user, and what they’ll

be looking for, and also what they’ll want to see after they click on a

page.



You never want someone to come to

your page expecting one thing and getting another because you didn’t use your

keywords properly.



So how do you find the best

keywords?



The following are a few key

things to know about keyword research.



The Basics of Keyword Research



First, what is keyword research?



This is a term that refers to the process you’ll use to find

and analyze terms people put into search engines.



Keyword research provides you with more specific details about

what your targeted audience is looking for.



With keyword research, you can learn more about what people

care about and what popular topics are at any given time that might relate to

your industry or niche.



With keyword research, you need keywords that you want to

rank for, but at the same time, that has to be balanced with the ones you

should and actually can rank for.



Getting Started



If you’ve never done any keyword research before, one of the

first steps is to brainstorm a list of relevant topics, questions, or important

things related to your business or site. This can be very general. Think of it

as a brain dump, and at this point, you don’t have to go in any particular

direction.



You’ll use these big, general topics to get more specific

with your keyword research when you’re ready.



If you really have no idea where to get started, do research

on your competitors. Look at what they’re writing about and blogging about.

That can give you a good starting point for your own SEO research and strategy.



During these initial phases of your research, you can create

somewhat of a wish list for the keywords you’d like to rank for, and you don’t

yet have to start thinking about how feasible that is.



Questions to ask include who your target audience is, what

they’re searching for and how they’re searching for it.



Depending on the nature of your business, you might also

want to think about location-based keywords.



Search Volume



If you’re going to do keyword research on your own, without

the help of an agency or an SEO professional, you’re

probably going to need a keyword tool.



Then, you can learn what the search volume is. The higher

the search volume for a keyword or phrase, often the harder it will be to rank

for because this means a lot of people are searching for it and it’s popular.



That’s not always the case, though.



The best keywords and phrases are the ones that have a high

search volume but aren’t as competitive. When you can discover these, you’ve

found a gem in terms of your SEO strategy.



What Does Longtail Mean?



Something important to know in keyword research is what

longtail means.



Longtail keywords are actually phrases. They provide good

opportunities because they tend to be phrased in a way that replicates natural

language or the way people will really search for things. They’re also less

competitive.



Even though a longtail keyword will have a lower search

volume in most cases, it will also tend to have a higher conversion rate

because it’s more specific and intentional.



Search Intent



The intent of the people searching for keywords and phrases

is important to understand as you build out an SEO strategy.



There are a few main categories of intent.



One is informational. In these situations, someone just

wants information or the answer to a question.



There are navigational searches that occur when someone

wants to go to a specific site.



Transactional searches are used when someone wants to do a

particular task, like buying something.



There are research searches when someone is comparing

products or services to figure out the best option for their needs.



Then, there are local searches when someone needs a business

close to their home.



Metrics to Analyze Keywords



Finally, we’ve touched on this a bit, but there are a few

key metrics you can use to gauge the quality of a keyword and whether or not

you should try to rank for it.



Search volume has already been discussed. Search volume is

typically a measure of the average number of

times a keyword is searched for in a month.



It’s the number of searches rather than a representation of

the number of people who searched. It also doesn’t tell you how much traffic

you’ll get if you rank. You’ll usually get no more than 30% of the volume, even

if you rank number one. It’s also an annual average.



Finally, you can also look

at the clicks that a search result gets. It tells you the average number of

monthly clicks on any given result, and this can help you understand whether or

not a keyword is worth trying to rank for compared to the volume. If the volume

is much higher than the clicks, it might not be a great keyword for you.



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How To Improve Test Management?

Every one of the teams which are working with the Agile system know about Jira. This platform is extensively used and now organizations are creating test management tools for Jira these tools can seamlessly integrate with the Jira environment. In this way companies that are already using Jira can easily add-on different tools as per their requirement and they do not have to rule out previous tools to use something new. Jira has its own basic set of functionalities such as tracking issues related to mobile or desktop applications but with simple integration the functionality can be enhanced magically. Now Jiras usage is not limited and it can be tweaked as per the organizations needs. For instance few DevOps teams use this tool for test case management and with little optimization it can be used as an end-to-end tool serving the complete purpose. How test management tools for Jira improve testing efforts? Jira can be customized in innumerable ways based on needs and test management is one of the prominent ways in which users can model it. Most companies prefer to integrate different tools in one place so that the team does not have to juggle between different platforms to get a single job done. It usually becomes frustrating for the team when the project is complex or the team is working on different tasks simultaneously they need to go through a set of tools. Single dashboard for all needs this not only saves time but also adds value to productivity. Through a single dashboard errors can be identified easily and can be fixed too. This eliminates the unnecessary repeated processes and all teams can access the essential information simultaneously. Workflow becomes manageable which eventually results in meeting deadlines way sooner. Also if testers maintain separate sheets or tools for test management then the rest of the team wont be accessing it 24 x 7. Their communication would be affected negatively and a detailed understanding of the test case would be minimal. Pros of Using Jira We know that Jira is not solely designed for testing purposes and can be customized as per needs. Here are a few benefits due to which Jiras popularity is unmatchable. Allows to create customizable issue types Single workflow for all teams developers QA and testing action Offer reporting facility Allows to integrate other tools as per your need Suitable for one time manual execution Jira Apps and Add-Ons There are numerous Add-ons available on the Atlassian marketplace which can be integrated with the system and meet the testing purpose. Few examples of add-ons are: To carry out manual testing Xray for Jira and Zephyr for Jira is used. Teams who work around the Agile approach usually consider Behave Pro and Tricentis q Test Scenario to do the needful. With the help of these add-ons testing functionality through Jira is enhanced and a better and organized test case management can be carried out. For instance using X Ray would help you to add issue type to the list of issues identified along with the steps. A lot of manual documentation and processing is alleviated though this particular add-on. Benefits of Using Add-Ons Generally speaking with these add-ons in Jira one can easily pull test cases in the form of cycles or suites. It also helps to execute test cases in groups and work around their results. In this way test execution becomes more visible. Few other benefits which testers can enjoy with these add-ons in Jira are: A similar look and feel can be maintained A similar or single dashboard is used for most of the work Easy to purchase and integrate Adding testing related functionality into an existing platform Allows you to link test objects with other functionalities What one can expect from test case management tools? Test case management tools come with extensive features and have numerous benefits. All sorts of manual and automation testing can be consolidated with these tools. All the details and history of test execution can be viewed. It allows users to understand the reason where testing went wrong and why a test case failed. Similar test cases can be used across multiple projects enhancing the reusability to save time and efforts. In this way isolation of test cases is eliminated and a template of a test case can be used instead of writing the case again and again. To get the best of both worlds it is recommended to look out for test management tools for Jira to perform multiple tasks simultaneously through one dashboard where the entire team can access useful information. The post How To Improve Test Management? appeared first on Social Media Explorer. Original source: https://socialmediaexplorer.com/business-innovation-2/how-to-improve-test-management/ The post How To Improve Test Management? appeared first on connect social networks. via Connect Social Networks http://connectsocialnetworks.com/how-to-improve-test-management/

Why Everyone Can Benefit from a Vacation with Helen Lee Schifter

With society finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel with the coronavirus pandemic, people are starting to confirm their revenge travel plans. People have felt extremely stressed and defeated this past year, and with hope finally coming to light, it is important for citizens to treat themselves and their families to a vacation. Whether it be within the states or abroad, people have witnessed troubling times and deserve to take a break from the chaos and enjoy some free time.



Helen Lee Schifter is a huge fan of traveling. She currently resides in New York, but frequently makes trips to California and Florida to fulfill her adventurous spirit. She is a former arbitrage trader on Wall Street and a former editor at Hearst and Conde Nast. She graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and went on to become a graduate from Amherst College. She enjoys learning about health and wellness and is an advocate for mediation and self care. She believes that time dedicated to relaxation is necessary for a healthy life balance.



Work can be exhausting. Living by a routine day in and day out can eventually cause people to burnout and lose sight of their motivation to continuously work hard. By breaking up the routine with a trip, people are able to re-energize and regroup. Schifter recommends that people go on at least one vacation each year. If they have the opportunity to go more often, the more the merrier!



Reasons Why Helen Lee Schifter Thinks Everyone Can Benefit From a Vacation





It Helps Improve Your Mental Health




The calming feeling that comes with taking a vacation helps relieve stress. Giving your brain and body a break from the constant feeling of pressure and anxiety helps a person feel rejuvenated.





    Improves Relationships with Others




By spending an enjoyable trip with loved ones, it helps strengthen your bond. Being able to relax and focus on each other’s company creates new positive memories with them and improves satisfaction.





    Also Assists with Physical Health




Although most people associate stress and anxiety with mental health, those feelings can also disrupt a person’s physical well being. By taking a vacation, studies have shown that people can lower their risk of heart disease and heart attacks.





    Taking a Vacation May Help You Earn a Raise!




Researchers found the surprising conclusion that employees who use their vacation time accordingly tend to perform better on their end of the year performance reviews. This is due to the fact that workers become happier when returning to work as opposed to those who did not take time off and therefore do not put in as much effort into their job.





    Vacations May Help You Live Longer




Europe is a great example of a system where people can take up to 30 vacation days a year. Compared to the United States, people do not struggle with health problems as much in Europe. It is also proven that Europeans are known to live longer and people believe it is due to the larger amount of vacation time they are given.



Helen Lee Schifter stresses that taking a vacation may be much more important than people realize. It not only is an enjoyable experience people look forward to every year, it is crucial for one’s health and overall well being. With the pandemic winding down, Schifter hopes people will take advantage of the opportunity to start traveling again. Take the time off, book a flight, and take the time with your family to enjoy yourselves, we all certainly need it.



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