The costs for social media support can vary widely — some social media consultants charge a flat fee per month for an agreed-upon scope of work, while others charge by the hour, at rates varying from $50 to $100 or more per hour. Whatever the cost, the bar for success will be set much higher when you’re actually paying someone to do it. Make sure you’ve established some measurable goals to ensure that your social media spending is moving the needle for your business.
They speak to measuring ROI which has been a topic I’ve been researching these past few months, and love their suggestions as a starting point:
Fan base growth:
Hitting 1,000 fans or followers over a set period of time
Customer acquisition:
Getting 50 redemptions per campaign on social media offers
Support of direct marketing:
Adding 200 names to your e-mail database per month
Engagement:
Achieving 20% participation by your fan base (e.g. Facebook “likes” and comments)
By the fourth quarter of 2010, the average internet user (worldwide) spent 23.1 hours per month online, according to a report released by comScore. However, the heaviest internet-using country used almost twice that.
The neighbors to the North average a staggering 43.5 hours per month, beating the next highest using country by over 8 hours. The U.S. was on the list, as well as the U.K. and South Korea.
Twitter blog announced changes that will roll out as a preview over the next several weeks including the following video:
During the preview, you’ll be able to switch back and forth so you have time to grow accustomed to the way things work, but eventually, everyone will have the updated version of Twitter.com.
BRAND - Decide on a brand and use it consistently on the web and in your social media spaces so it’s easy for you and your target audience to remember.
SOCIAL MEDIA EMAIL ADDRESS – so when you go on holidays manning the social media storefront can be delegated, and so you can filter it into a special email folder, so you can look only once per day. Perhaps a gmail account as you’ll need one to
BLOGS / RSS NEWS FEEDS — so social media spaces can automatically syndicate it.
SCHEDULE TIME IN YOUR SCHEDULE – get it done
PROFILE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE – to watch your pages, those you manage and your competitors
COMMUNICATIONS PLAN — what do your customers want? what will they share?
RESOURCES – what do you have now, what is available for free on the net
ALLIANCES – who do you know, win/wins?
EDUCATE YOURSELF – fast track your success and avoid fatal errors.
GOOGLE ALERTS & ANALYTICS — on your website so you can identify what works and repeat it, as well as what does not, so you can eliminate it and focus on true success
Just read an really interesting post by Recruiterpoet called “Networking Needs Compassion” and loved the way he summed up the Rules of Networking…
Some approaches can be successful but one must always remember a few key principles of networking.
1.) It takes time. Networking is like a fine red wine. It takes time to age but when you finally open it, the rewards are bountiful.
2.) Networking needs compassion, trust, and respect. We will get into this further on in this article, but the bottom line is don’t be a selfish networker. You know who you are. You only reach out to people when you need something. You play the sales role well by shaking hands, taking cards and buying a drink or two but never follow up unless you need something. Bad, bad, bad networker.
3.) Diversify your network. Now I sound like Jim Cramer. Use a variety of means of networking including face to face, social media and internal corporate channels. Do not limit yourself, but also do not over extend yourself.
4.) Continue to evolve and grow. As your professional, personal, volunteer, publications, events, and other aspects of your life add to your life summary, update that information and ensure that all the individuals in your network are aware of how well you are developing and diversifying.
5.) Be cautious of hitchhikers. There is nothing wrong with aligning yourself with open networkers but be careful of their message and what they are trying to gain. Aligning yourself with the wrong individuals could have an adverse affect on your reputation.
6.) Be generous but be aware. Be generous with how your share your time and connections but do not over use your power. Your closest networking counterparts put a tremendous amount of trust in you and if you use them too much that is an abuse of the trust and it could damage a relationship.
You’ll find out what social media is, who’s using it, and how to automate your communication to social media spaces such as like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. You’ll learn:
nine essential steps to social media success
how to manage your social media profile efficiently
pitfals to avoid
tricks to make it as easy as sending an email
Seating is limited, so reserve your seat today and details you require to sit in on this webinar e.g. phone number to call and link to see presentation on your computer will be emailed to you…
Add a Welcome Tab on your Facebook Profile or Page to show your business profile, picture, video or any other type of content on Facebook. Just follow the steps published here… http://apps.facebook.com/welcometab.
Yesterday Facebook relaunched new version of Groups they claim allows us to stay closer to groups of people in our lives. This new version makes it easy for us to build a space for important groups of people in our life—our family, our soccer team, our book club. All you have to do to get started is to create a group, add friends and start sharing.
It upset me to read the Toronto Star’s article “What price liberty? Up to $50″ about the Jaworski family in Orono who have a ‘neighbour’ who doesn’t understand the concept. This neighbour recently took it on themselves to call to Municipality of Clarington to tattle about a conference the Jaworski’s were hosting for a registered charity called the Institute for Liberal Studies.
As a direct result:
1) the Jaworski family are now facing a total of $50,000 in fines for improper land use of their 16 hectaires of agricultural land in Orono called Hillside Estate.
2) Certainly the experience of the 72 conference attendees this year were marred?
3) The future of the 11th “Liberty Summer Seminar” is in question. Will it happen? Will the Jaworski’s be able to find a way to hold the 11th?
I understand there has to be rules, and that the Municipality’s must enforce them if there is a complaint, but I can’t wrap my head around how a person could hate on another ‘neighbour’ that much! Hopefully our justice system will be more gracious and lenient — especially given this fragile economy!
Heartland Equestrian.ca is proud to announce their grand opening and fundraiser event taking place this Sunday, June 13th. Join us for a day of family fun!
In addition to offering a tour of the facilities, a riding demonstration, the opportunity to meet the ponies & horses and other entertainment, Heartland will be raising funds in support of Camp BUCKO, BUrn Camp for Kids in Ontario.
Yesterday Facebook relaunched new version of Groups they claim allows us to stay closer to groups of people in our lives. This new version makes it easy for us to build a space for important groups of people in our life—our family, our soccer team, our book club. All you have to do to get started is to create a group, add friends and start sharing.
