Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Inbound Marketing - Where is it Headed?
We all know we should be doing inbound marketing. We all know inbound marketing has a proven success rate. But, do we know where inbound marketing is headed?
There are so many trends and so many changes taking place each day, it is hard to keep on track with your inbound marketing plan. What is trending and growing in inbound marketing today? What projections are there about what is going to explode in the future? What aspects of inbound marketing should I be concentrating the most on?
Fear no more! I have put together a compilation of charts, graphs, and stats relating to inbound marketing practices that will help you answer these questions. You will see the latest growth rates are as well as growth rates for the future.
Get your inbound marketing plan on track for the future and have valid stats to show for it.
You can download the presentation here:
The Future IS Inbound Marketing
There are so many trends and so many changes taking place each day, it is hard to keep on track with your inbound marketing plan. What is trending and growing in inbound marketing today? What projections are there about what is going to explode in the future? What aspects of inbound marketing should I be concentrating the most on?
Fear no more! I have put together a compilation of charts, graphs, and stats relating to inbound marketing practices that will help you answer these questions. You will see the latest growth rates are as well as growth rates for the future.
Get your inbound marketing plan on track for the future and have valid stats to show for it.
You can download the presentation here:
The Future IS Inbound Marketing
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Value of a Tweet
What do you think about magazine, newspaper, and other media charging their advertising clients money to tweet to their audience? Do you think that is playing nice or do you think they should be just following their clients and retweeting for free? I understand they couldn’t do that if their clients are not on twitter to follow.
I seen one that is charging $500 for one tweet to their approximately 13,000 subscribers. $500 for one tweet? How many of those 13,000 subscribers are actually logged onto Twitter in the next 20 minutes to see that tweet? Twitter moves so fast you need to scroll down a couple pages just to see what was tweeted in the last hour. Is this worth the value?
I understand why they are adding this to their mix. Social media is great promotion and has value. I feel like they are taking advantage of their unknowing clients by offering one tweet. Their clients who are not on Twitter will not understand that only a small portion of that number will probably even see that tweet. Maybe if they were tweeting several times during the month or so many tweets each week for four weeks – this may have a more significant value. What are your thoughts on this?
I seen one that is charging $500 for one tweet to their approximately 13,000 subscribers. $500 for one tweet? How many of those 13,000 subscribers are actually logged onto Twitter in the next 20 minutes to see that tweet? Twitter moves so fast you need to scroll down a couple pages just to see what was tweeted in the last hour. Is this worth the value?
I understand why they are adding this to their mix. Social media is great promotion and has value. I feel like they are taking advantage of their unknowing clients by offering one tweet. Their clients who are not on Twitter will not understand that only a small portion of that number will probably even see that tweet. Maybe if they were tweeting several times during the month or so many tweets each week for four weeks – this may have a more significant value. What are your thoughts on this?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Social Media…Expert?
I answered a discussion on LinkedIn today, and it got me thinking… I think this is something I want to blog about. The ever growing list of social media experts out there. I know that last one is not a complete sentence.
Everywhere I look, I see Social Media Expert labeled as someone’s profession. Call me out wrong, but how can anyone be an expert on this subject? Social media is constantly changing and growing. It’s changing every day. Every day we learn something new from it. Since we are all learning, how can anyone be an expert? I, myself, have branched out to form my own social media marketing agency, but I could never call myself an expert. I have listened to all the webinars, attended all the seminars and several conferences, even studied to become certified, but I do not consider myself an expert by any means. I feel that would be a total misconception and I think most people would call me out on it as well. I think my potential customers might even be leery of the term.
I also notice tons of current marketing agencies out there adding social media to their mix. Do they know how to leverage social media? I do not know and cannot say. But I have this gut feeling that many are throwing it into the mix because it is rapidly becoming more popular and they feel they need to offer it. Do they have any training or experience with it? It’s right there on the home page: “Now offering social media”. This gets me thinking even more. Does the customer want a marketing agency that recently added social media to its many other services or do they want someone who specializes in just social media? That’s another ongoing question that has been in the back of my mind for some time.
While I’m on the subject, another thing I have noted is the increasing job postings for a social media manager. Now, on the job postings, companies are requiring the new social media manager to have a Bachelor’s Degree. Why? I can say with great probability that the majority of marketers out there did not receive lessons in social media while they were obtaining their degrees. It’s only been around for the last few years. Maybe a recent grad… That really makes no sense to me. Do the companies who are hiring the social media manager even know what they are looking for?
Questions… Questions…
Maybe someone can enlighten me.
Everywhere I look, I see Social Media Expert labeled as someone’s profession. Call me out wrong, but how can anyone be an expert on this subject? Social media is constantly changing and growing. It’s changing every day. Every day we learn something new from it. Since we are all learning, how can anyone be an expert? I, myself, have branched out to form my own social media marketing agency, but I could never call myself an expert. I have listened to all the webinars, attended all the seminars and several conferences, even studied to become certified, but I do not consider myself an expert by any means. I feel that would be a total misconception and I think most people would call me out on it as well. I think my potential customers might even be leery of the term.
I also notice tons of current marketing agencies out there adding social media to their mix. Do they know how to leverage social media? I do not know and cannot say. But I have this gut feeling that many are throwing it into the mix because it is rapidly becoming more popular and they feel they need to offer it. Do they have any training or experience with it? It’s right there on the home page: “Now offering social media”. This gets me thinking even more. Does the customer want a marketing agency that recently added social media to its many other services or do they want someone who specializes in just social media? That’s another ongoing question that has been in the back of my mind for some time.
While I’m on the subject, another thing I have noted is the increasing job postings for a social media manager. Now, on the job postings, companies are requiring the new social media manager to have a Bachelor’s Degree. Why? I can say with great probability that the majority of marketers out there did not receive lessons in social media while they were obtaining their degrees. It’s only been around for the last few years. Maybe a recent grad… That really makes no sense to me. Do the companies who are hiring the social media manager even know what they are looking for?
Questions… Questions…
Maybe someone can enlighten me.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
- - - Last Day to enter Cabinet Vac Father's Day Contest. http://ping.fm/5eClh http://ow.ly/17HMur ht http://ow.ly/17J0zw
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Were You Fooled Today?
For those not familiar with what is going on: HubSpot sent out a message today that their IMU was shut down due to due to a cease and decist order from an attorney and to click to save Hubspot IMU. I clicked and it made me join Captain Inbound's ning group who says he's the only one not hit with the cease order and he's trying to keep his identity a secret but Hubspot would be sending secret codes we needed to figure out so they didn't get caught and we could help stop the cease order and get them back up and running.
Well, I checked out the lawyer. Whois directory says her website was created in April 2010. Phone number unlisted. No address on cease letter they put up. It's a one page website. The Marketing company who hired the lawyer - same thing - cruddy site, whois directory says website created in Apr 2010. No letter can make them stop either. Only a judge.
Within the hour I had figured them out. A few select of us as well. I felt bad because they probably planned this staged shutdown for a long time and we called them out on it in an hour.
Hubspot has a page up that you can find saying that they not in any trouble and it's game they are playing to make us all secret agents and come together as a community because their research shows that when you play a game with someone, you become closer to them and develop a better relationship. Of course, some people are upset because they wasted their time and they were duped.
But just for one moment, besides their excuse to use it as a community building exercise, think of all the twitters, etc. they are getting from this publicity stunt. Twitter is already flooded with people tweeting about the shutdown and it's not even true. All their secret missions where to talk about hubspot, sign up for hubspot, become a Facebook fan of Hubspot, etc. Clues were given in their book that you have to buy. They are generating a tremendous outdoor of SEO from twitter and Facebook, etc. right now.
I find this to be absolutely brilliant marketing. They took email addresses to sign up and help Hubspot (lead generation). They asked you to tweet to your followers to help Hubspot (social media promotion and gathered more lead generation). The blog spots, the Facebook Fans, and on and on.... Another lesson for the day. If you create remarkable content, you will create SEO and social media promotion.
This also gave them the opportunity to take all people affiliated and immediately start their own community... fast.
Any other feedback on what happened today?
Subscribe to my eNewsletter for more information on Social Media.
Well, I checked out the lawyer. Whois directory says her website was created in April 2010. Phone number unlisted. No address on cease letter they put up. It's a one page website. The Marketing company who hired the lawyer - same thing - cruddy site, whois directory says website created in Apr 2010. No letter can make them stop either. Only a judge.
Within the hour I had figured them out. A few select of us as well. I felt bad because they probably planned this staged shutdown for a long time and we called them out on it in an hour.
Hubspot has a page up that you can find saying that they not in any trouble and it's game they are playing to make us all secret agents and come together as a community because their research shows that when you play a game with someone, you become closer to them and develop a better relationship. Of course, some people are upset because they wasted their time and they were duped.
But just for one moment, besides their excuse to use it as a community building exercise, think of all the twitters, etc. they are getting from this publicity stunt. Twitter is already flooded with people tweeting about the shutdown and it's not even true. All their secret missions where to talk about hubspot, sign up for hubspot, become a Facebook fan of Hubspot, etc. Clues were given in their book that you have to buy. They are generating a tremendous outdoor of SEO from twitter and Facebook, etc. right now.
I find this to be absolutely brilliant marketing. They took email addresses to sign up and help Hubspot (lead generation). They asked you to tweet to your followers to help Hubspot (social media promotion and gathered more lead generation). The blog spots, the Facebook Fans, and on and on.... Another lesson for the day. If you create remarkable content, you will create SEO and social media promotion.
This also gave them the opportunity to take all people affiliated and immediately start their own community... fast.
Any other feedback on what happened today?
Subscribe to my eNewsletter for more information on Social Media.
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