Facebook and social media updates happen at a ever-increasing pace! It's hard to keep up online with what matters and what's changed for marketers online.
That's where I aim to step in and add some value to you!
Are you keeping up with the Facebook and social media changes? As soon as I post this, new things have happened! So let's get you caught up on the most recent "need-to-know" changes.
Ready to go?
[powerpress]
Subscribe: Halftime Mike on iTunes | Android users via RSS | Listen on Stitcher.
As the wise philosopher David Bowie once said; ch.. ch.. ch.. changes. Here are the changes for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, & YouTube for this week. Enjoy!
When Facebook Stories were introduced, you could only share with your friends. But now if you allow public followers on your profile, your Facebook Stories can be watched by anyone. Expect to get lots of reach when you use Stories.
This is only for profiles right now. Facebook has no timeline to roll out public sharing to Pages. However, it shows that Stories are getting more attention and user are posting Stories and watching stories. Are you using Stories more?
Twitter is losing American users. Last quarter they lost 2 million users! And when you have fewer eyeballs you have dwindling profits. So they’re inventing some unique ways to build sales. The latest plan is a $99 monthly service that will automatically “amplify” a profile and tweets for 30 days. Analytics is included with the service so you can see your gain in reach, engagement, and followers.
The impressive part is that there’s no need to create an ad and users can cancel the Twitter service at any time. So if you’re really busy, like me, this could be an interesting possible way to get your brand recognized.
We’ve been able to add multiple images to Facebook forever. Now LinkedIn is stepping up and modernizing. Right now adding multiple images is only available to Apple device users, but is coming soon to Android and desktop.
This is AWESOME!
For events, seminars, and workshops because multiple day events need multiple images. Ideal for products because now we can view the total package. Tell a before and after story and have the images go along.
It's about time.
This was a basic, simple editor to use to edit YouTube videos. But they’re discontinuing it because of many people didn’t use it. They’re focusing their efforts on building new tools and improving other ones.
What will Chromebook users use to edit videos as they can’t easily download software? Trimming, blurring and filters will be featured in the Enhancements Feature of the Video Manager.
So every time I see something about Flash I hear the first line of the theme song to the movie Flash Gordon. https://youtu.be/MS4_Z84-rRE
Unfortunately unlike its superhero name sake, Flash was never the savior of the interwebs. It had its run and yet is simply old, unstable, unsecure technology that needs to end. The web evolves, browsers evolve, mobile use increased and flash needed to go.
Good news - we’ll never have to be subjected to a bad Flash website again. Bad news - Flash won’t go away completely until 2020.
If you STILL have flash on your website, it's time to get a new website! Flash has officially been put on life support with a pending death outlined.
Hot off the press, not even 24 hours old since this post has gone live, we've seen some users getting ability to go live on Instagram Live in Stories and invite in another viewer for a dual broadcast format! We'll see if the testing goes well and it rolls out mainstream to all users. Stay tuned!
This is POWERFUL for marketers! Live broadcasts are rising in popularity and viewership and how you can bring someone in, it's the evolution of live. Watch out TV!
Please let your Twitter followers know about this podcast.
Simply click here now to post a tweet >>.
If you enjoyed this episode of the Social Media Marketing podcast, please “go over to iTunes, leave a rating, write a review and subscribe!
Thank you so much for your support!
I’m an Indiana Hoosier native where basketball is the top sport. Every team heads to the locker room at halftime to evaluate the first half and create an updated plan for the second half. That plan includes adjustments based on reviewing what worked and what didn't. The “halftime” is a key review point where the game stops, the team pulls away to huddle in the locker room away from the fans, and they come out prepared and ready to succeed in the second half.
That’s what this podcast is all about, taking the time to pull away for a bit to evaluate, learn, and set some strategies for your business to succeed in the second half. Join me by subscribing and let me be your “business halftime” to help you find great success going forward!
Subscribe: Halftime Mike on iTunes | Android users via RSS | Listen on Stitcher.
Grab my helpful checklist that includes strategy for social media lead generation. Click image!
Having a lead capture plan for your website to grow your email list is critical. Using a ebook as a tool is a good method for offering something of value. Let's dive into the what, why, and how to create a ebook!
Is your website growing leads and building your email list?
One gap point on many websites is a clear strategy for lead capture. In this episode, I dive in, explain, and outline how to create a ebook for website email list building.
Ready to go?
Subscribe: Halftime Mike on iTunes | Android users via RSS | Listen on Stitcher.
Watch on YouTube >
When growing leads online or seeking to build your email list, the best way to increase subscribers is by offering something of value in exchange for their email address. This needs to be more than a basic "Sign up for our newsletter!" call to action. People have no idea what to expect from your newsletter. So even if it's full of valuable content, you need to offer more to get their email address.
There are many different options for an opt-in offer (soft lead capture), eBooks, white papers, free video webinars, coupons, etc., but an ebook is a very powerful option. As well, it is usually something you already have the majority of the copy for if you have been blogging regularly!
If you're ready to create your first ebook, check out our tips below.
Pick a topic that's relevant to your business. This is not a product information sheet but rather something that might be helpful for buyers pre-sale or to view how others are using your product successfully. The key is that it offers value. It's not your product but it helps the visitor and builds trust with you while showcasing your expertise.
What's something your target market would be interested in learning more about? What question do you get asked most? That's a great topic for your eBook. It could be information they should be considering before they buy, how they can plan ahead, or how to maximize the product use after purchase.
For a digital marketing agency, an ebook about Facebook ads or creating a social media strategy are examples. A contractor might have an ebook about minor fixes homeowners can do themselves (setting themselves up as the "go to" for larger repairs and projects). A credit union might have an ebook about repairing your credit.
It's important to give away valuable information in your opt-in ebook, but not too much information that they don't buy from you.
Since ebooks are much longer pieces of content than a typical blog article, the best way to get started is by creating an outline. Write the main points you want to make and include a few bullets about each one. The goal here is to think of a topic of value that you have already written about in various ways in individual blog posts. Each blog post could be a section in the ebook.
For example, if a home remodeler has written blog posts on the following areas listed below, perhaps a topic for the ebook could be: "Planning Guide for your Kitchen Remodel."
Each of these is a great blog post but together they can make a powerful ebook for someone thinking about a kitchen renovation project! Since you have the content, you are 88% there!
The best way to outline your ebook is by dedicating a separate chapter to each subtopic, then cover each subtopic thoroughly.
Now write your ebook! Take the outline you've created, write your introduction, and flesh out each of your chapters, subheadings, and bullet points. Bring each post into a single document and then adjust, adapt, and add to make it a cohesive and evenly flowing ebook.
Be sure to create a unique summary that ties it all together. As well, include a call-to-action to your products/services in your conclusion to let each of your new email subscribers know what next steps to take after reading your ebook.
Proofreading and editing anything you write is always crucial.
Sentences that may have made sense when you initially wrote them might need some cleanup after rereading them. Once you've finished writing, set it aside for a few days before coming back to edit. It's always a good idea to let it stew before revisiting it.
Better yet, have someone else read through it to get another set of eyes on it. If cost is not an issue, you can send it off to a professional editor to review as well.
This can be one of the most difficult parts but also the most important.
You want your ebook product to be engaging and compelling. It requires more design than a regular blog post. You want to make it easy to read and aesthetically pleasing. Don't slap a bunch of words onto a Microsoft Word document and export it as a PDF.
Here's a great tool to create your own eBook, https://MyeBookMaker.com. There are also great ebook designers on Fiverr. It is better to have more white space and images than to have too much text slammed together! It should NOT look like a college term paper! More like a Powerpoint Presentation with substance.
Once you've finished your design, export it as a PDF, and you're ready to get started increasing email subscriptions with your new ebook opt-in offer. Create a pop-up on your website asking for name and email and outlining the offer, and a landing page that includes a thank you and link to download the eBook for new subscribers.
Please let your Twitter followers know about this podcast.
Simply click here now to post a tweet >>.
If you enjoyed this episode of the Social Media Marketing podcast, please “go over to iTunes, leave a rating, write a review and subscribe!
Thank you so much for your support!
I’m an Indiana Hoosier native where basketball is the top sport. Every team heads to the locker room at halftime to evaluate the first half and create an updated plan for the second half. That plan includes adjustments based on reviewing what worked and what didn't. The “halftime” is a key review point where the game stops, the team pulls away to huddle in the locker room away from the fans, and they come out prepared and ready to succeed in the second half.
That’s what this podcast is all about, taking the time to pull away for a bit to evaluate, learn, and set some strategies for your business to succeed in the second half. Join me by subscribing and let me be your “business halftime” to help you find great success going forward!
Subscribe: Halftime Mike on iTunes | Android users via RSS | Listen on Stitcher.
Grab my helpful checklist that includes strategy for social media lead generation. Click image!
