Friday Sharing: Leveraging Instagram Videos for Social Media Success

I have to admit, until I read this article earlier this week, I hadn't really given much thought into using Instagram for marketing that much. This article made me rethink that a bit. Now if I could just get away from my dislike of video for everything it would make me rethink it even more.

The article, posted by MavSocial, talks about the growth of online users watching and using videos and the speculation that the number of online video users will double to 1.5 billion by 2016. They also predict that online video traffic will account for 55% of all consumer internet traffic.

Instagram is playing a part of this as companies that can't afford expensive TV commercials are turning to Instagram with short video productions.

The article then goes on to outline what types of videos companies with a small video marketing budget can make and remind people that the videos can be shared to Facebook. I'd like to note they can be shared on Twitter and other social media platforms as well.

Check out the article here: http://mavsocial.com/leveraging-instagram-videos-for-social-media-success/

Wednesday Words: SproutSocial

Sprout Social is a social media management program similar to HootSuite which allows social media teams to update, post, schedule, and respond via a number of social media platforms. Unlike HootSuite, there is no free account option available, so you must pay for Sprout Social.

Sprout Social has been gaining in use and I've heard more and more folks involved in Social Media Marketing talk about how Sprout Social helps them manage their social media branding and marketing better.

Sprout Social, Inc., was founded in April 2010 and the program launched in November 2011. As of November 2012, Sprout Social reported having more than 10,000 paying customers.

The unique feature of Sprout Social is that it features a unified “Smart Inbox” which contains all incoming messages from all linked up social media accounts, allowing for ease of use in replying. The platform works with Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter.

You can connect with Sprout Social, or learn more about them here:

Website: http://sproutsocial.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SproutSocialInc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sprout-social-inc.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sproutsocial

Wednesday Words are a series of definitions released on Wednesday each week regarding a word found specific to Facebook's social media platform, or may be a generic word dealing with social media. These definitions are to help provide you with a better understanding of common and uncommon terms associated with Facebook and social media. You can find all the Wednesday Words by clicking on the Wednesday Words tag below.

Tuesday Tips: Experiment With Promotions/Discounts

As is true with any form of marketing, sometimes you have to experiment to see what works.  A good piece of advice to experiment with promotions or discounts that are only available to your Facebook fans.

There are a number of ways to do this, from contests that they are only able to enter after liking your page, to a special app that gives them a coupon code after they like the page.  There are several options available and a little research via Facebook support or Google should turn up a plethora of apps advice and suggestions.

I'm steering away from recommending any apps because 1) I don't use any of them myself as my pages don't have anything to sell to offer promotions 2) I'm trying to remain unbiased and by recommending an app makes me biased.

All of that said, consider some offerings for your followers and try it out. It might bring you more fans and more sales.

Tuesday Tips are a series of tips released on Tuesday each week regarding a hint or tip to help you manage and market your Facebook presence better.  You can find all the Tuesday Tips by clicking on the Tuesday Tips tag below.

The Monday Search: Job Listings as of 03/02/2015

There are many jobs available out there for people knowledgeable about Social Media, but sometimes finding the job isn't easy.

Don't worry! Each week (when I have time) I will be featuring 3-5 jobs currently available as of Monday. Additional sites will be linked at the very bottom of the article and listed as sources. Other sites may be listed as well.

I got a little behind on getting this written so instead of putting the description with the jobs, I'm just linking a number of jobs for you to check out.

Here are this week's job listings I found interesting:

• Avalere Health is hiring a Traditional and Social Media Senior Writer in Washington, D.C.
• Bose Corporation is hiring a Senior Level Global Social Media Manager in Boston
• Reingold, Inc., is hiring a Social Media Associate in Alexandria, VA
• Reingold, Inc., is hiring a Senior Social Media Associate in Alexandria, VA
• Verisk Analytics is hiring a Manager of Digital Strategy/Social Media in Jersey City, NJ
• Skirt Public Relations is hiring a Social Media Manager in Chicago
• U-Haul is hiring a Social Media/Content Strategist in Phoenix
• Spencer Gifts is hiring a Social Media Manager in Egg Harbor Township, NJ
• Esurance Inc., is hiring a Social Media Manager in San Francisco
• Kraft Foods is hiring a Bilingual Social Media Associate Manager in Chicago

Other listings:

• Media Bistro Job Listings (note not all the jobs listed here are social media positions):http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter-jobs/?c=stnav
• LinkedIn Social Media Job Listings: http://www.linkedin.com/job/q-social-media-manager-jobs and http://www.linkedin.com/vsearch/j?keywords=socialmedia+manager or http://www.linkedin.com/job/q-social-media-marketing-jobs or http://www.linkedin.com/job/q-social-media-strategist-jobs
• CareerBuilder: http://www.careerbuilder.com/Jobs/Keyword/Social-Media-Manager/
• Indeed.com: http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=Social-media
• Simply Hired: http://www.simplyhired.com/k-social-media-jobs.html 

The Monday Search is a brief listing of jobs available for those in the social media marketing field. All jobs are found through internet searches and are just featured because they are of interest to me. Monday Searches will contain links to sites with other job listings in addition to the ones listed here.  If you are interested in having a Social Media job opening featured for your company, please send me a message via Facebook on my page or my profile.

Wednesday Words: Microblogging

Today's word covers a combination of platforms, including a platform we don't yet cover on SMMTT. That word is microblogging.

Microblogging is the opposite of blogging, which consist of relatively long posts.  Microblogging is really short blog posts expressed via text, images or video. Microblogging's appeal is both its immediacy and portability because posts can be written or received with a variety of devices, including cell phones. Twitter and Tumblr are two great examples of microblogging.  There's even a site dedicated to Microblogging called Microblogger.com complete with a newsletter and podcast about microblogging.

Some people even consider Facebook's status updates a form of microblogging, which I suppose is true if you keep your statuses short and sweet - and we all have that one friend who definitely doesn't do that, right?

Wednesday Words are a series of definitions released on Wednesday each week regarding a word found specific to Facebook's social media platform, or may be a generic word dealing with social media. These definitions are to help provide you with a better understanding of common and uncommon terms associated with Facebook and social media. You can find all the Wednesday Words by clicking on the Wednesday Words tag below.

Tuesday Tips: Share Social Media Links on Marketing Materials

You've taken the time to set up your Facebook page, Twitter account and maybe Pinterest or other accounts, but you aren't getting many followers.  Chances are it's because no one knows you have those things available for them to follow you on. Today's society is very social media driven and if they see that you have a Facebook page or other social media, chances are they will look into it and follow/like/etc.

What this means for you is you need to update your marketing materials, including but not limited to your business cards, receipts, emails, signs, window art, kiosk art, etc.  You can include just your address, or if you're really tech savvy, add a QR code that takes them to the social media platform where they can easily like you and go from there.

Once you have the marketing materials redone, be sure to pass it out and let people know verbally that they can find you on these social media platforms.

Every bit of promotion helps and sometimes hearing it and then seeing it will get them to follow you.

Tuesday Tips are a series of tips released on Tuesday each week regarding a hint or tip to help you manage and market your Facebook presence better.  You can find all the Tuesday Tips by clicking on the Tuesday Tips tag below.

The Monday Search: Job Listings as of 02/23/2015

There are many jobs available out there for people knowledgeable about Social Media, but sometimes finding the job isn't easy.

Don't worry! Each week (when I have time) I will be featuring 3-5 jobs currently available as of Monday. Additional sites will be linked at the very bottom of the article and listed as sources. Other sites may be listed as well.

Here are this week's job listings I found interesting:

Loyola Press is still searching for a Social Media Specialist in Chicago

Responsibilities
Loyola Press is looking for a new Social Media Specialist with experience in social media creation and management to assist the Interactive Communications Manager in developing content, communities, and voice for all online and social media channels. Responsibilities include:

• Creating multiple social media “voices” for Loyola Press
• Building content: writing, researching, and/or assigning long- and short-form articles and other types of online content such as videos, art, or animations. 
• Understanding digital strategies to effectively share content across online channels
• Managing internal and external teams for writing and design needs, sourcing freelancers, creating and maintaining schedules, and communicating specs or guidelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, or other communications-related field
• 2+ years of marketing and social media experience
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational, multi-tasking and process skills, as well as an eye for detail
• Knowledge of Catholicism and/or experience working for a Catholic organization

For more information:  http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter-jobs/jobview.asp?joid=176798&page=1

McMurry/TMG is hiring a Social Media Journalist in Phoenix

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner with AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT team to develop and execute strategies and tactics to grow digital audience reach and conversion
• Create (and/or oversee the production of) content assets, including articles, slideshows/galleries, interactive quizzes, data visualizations, social content, videos, and immersive interactive experiences
• Work with AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT team to come up with strategies for search engine optimization, social media, and editorial partnerships
• Work with internal and client teams to create or coordinate campaigns, PR outreach, event calendar, and other key marketing initiatives
• Establish and manage relationships with bloggers, journalists, and industry influencers
• Build and engage communities in the consumer technology space
• Help manage the specific project audience team, which also includes the assigned audience engineer and digital designer.
• May be tapped to help with new business pitches and current inhouse projects, as needed.

Qualifications:

• Comprehensive understanding (and passion!) for consumer tech, particularly smart home technology
• Impeccable writing skills and editorial judgment: from crafting must-click headlines to curating must-know content to creation of must-read articles and everything in between
• Deep knowledge of SEO, social platforms, influencer outreach and email
• Ability to communicate effectively and with grace under pressure.
• Experience creating online, designed-to-be-shared videos
• Team player who loves to collaborate
• Passionate about media, technology, and communications
• Experience in a newsroom environment or media-like culture
• Familiarity with content management systems, social software, Google Analytics and other audience development tools highly preferred
• Experience in any of the following verticals is preferred but not required: Travel, Consumer and/or b2b Technology, Health/Wellness, Education, Retail, Finance and Lifestyle.

For more information: http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter-jobs/jobview.asp?joid=177068&page=1

Move, Inc., is hiring a Social Media Manager in San Jose, CA

Responsibilities:

• Create, curate, and manage all published social media content including writing, images, and video on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, and other social media outlets
• Work closely with the rest of the editorial team to promote their content on social media platforms on a daily news cycle, from breaking news to fun eye-candy features to in-depth housing trend analysis. 
• The ideal candidate will use journalism skills to find and collect information for the editorial team to use in original content creation, as well as bring new ideas to the table on how to use social media to increase and improve the reach and reputation of Move’s brands, with a focus on the flagship realtor.com site. Implement and maintain the brand’s voice across all social media
• Monitor, listen, and respond to users in an engaging way
• Identify opportunities for social-media-driven stories and work with the rest of the editorial team to create them
• Plan graphics (charts, illustrations, etc.) for use promoting stories
• Prepare weekly status reports on best/worst performing social media posts and campaigns
• Foster relationships with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and other social media outlets
• Identify emerging social media platforms that need to be jumped on and experimented with
• Contribute to and maintain an influencers’ database

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field
• Minimum 3 years of experience with demonstrated success in social media strategies, community management, community building, and outreach
• Extensive knowledge of all social media platforms and tools. Must have a solid understanding of and previous experience with content, engagement, and conversion strategies
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Must be able to write with a given audience in mind about luxury homes, celebrity real estate, and market trends, keeping communication clear, concise, and—most importantly—engaging
• Must be flexible, with the ability to multi-task and adjust to changing priorities and timelines in a fast-paced work environment. Ability to work under tight deadlines with short turnarounds
• Self-starter, constantly thinking proactively and identifying new opportunities
• Project management and excellent organizational skills
• Experience creating multimedia pieces including graphics, pie charts, and infographics using programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are a plus

For more information: http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter-jobs/jobview.asp?joid=177032&page=1

Other listings:

• Media Bistro Job Listings (note not all the jobs listed here are social media positions):http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter-jobs/?c=stnav
• LinkedIn Social Media Job Listings: http://www.linkedin.com/job/q-social-media-manager-jobs and http://www.linkedin.com/vsearch/j?keywords=socialmedia+manager or http://www.linkedin.com/job/q-social-media-marketing-jobs or http://www.linkedin.com/job/q-social-media-strategist-jobs
• CareerBuilder: http://www.careerbuilder.com/Jobs/Keyword/Social-Media-Manager/
• Indeed.com: http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=Social-media
• Simply Hired: http://www.simplyhired.com/k-social-media-jobs.html 

The Monday Search is a brief listing of jobs available for those in the social media marketing field. All jobs are found through internet searches and are just featured because they are of interest to me. Monday Searches will contain links to sites with other job listings in addition to the ones listed here.  If you are interested in having a Social Media job opening featured for your company, please send me a message via Facebook on my page or my profile.