It can be hard to keep up with your social media marketing opportunities. There are so many platforms to choose from that knowing which are best is sometimes a challenge. Of course, you should make sure your business is represented on the “tried and true” Big 3: • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest But, that’s not enough these days. In addition to these three, you should also be sure that you have visibility on some of the fresh, new platforms, as well. Which of the newest offerings have the most potential? In this article, we will discuss four of the latest newcomers... [...]

E-Commerce sales in the U.S. totaled $306 billion in 2014 and are projected to pass $494 billion by 2018. With numbers like this, it is safe to say that e-commerce is here to stay and is only becoming more powerful by the minute. You might already run your own e-commerce store or are about to launch one from scratch; either way, there are six principles every e-commerce website should follow. 1- Clean Visuals Visuals and the overall look of your website are one of the most important elements in building trust with potential customers and in increasing their engagement on your site. If a website... [...]

Editor’s note As marketers, it is critical that we understand how to connect with the people we are targeting with our online ads. We can take a lesson from the successes and failures of news organizations as they have tried to build a relationship with the younger adults in our society. In this guest article, DJ Miller reviews some of those successes and failures. The so-called millennials pose a unique problem to those who try to keep them informed about what’s going on in the world. Gen Y is the so-called “me generation,” so trying to keep them interested in the wider arena is... [...]

by Ness Garcia Online marketing and social media go hand in hand nowadays, so it is important to understand the best ways to run an effective and successful campaign. More and more people are using automated ways to get their social media strategies finished up, but is it costing them traffic? Let’s take a look at how much automation is safe in social media strategies. Content Posts throughout All Networks The most popular automated part of social media is the software that allows you to post to any website you want with the click of a button. While this might seem really smart to do, it... [...]

A presence on social media is increasingly important for businesses these days, and many companies use social media with great success. However, sometimes businesses get it wrong when it comes to this outlet, and sometimes they get it dead wrong. Check out some of these good and bad social media examples that your business can learn from. Businesses That React to Negative Customer Feedback The Good: Dell took note that customers were posting to social media about problems before they issued a call to the call center. Dell was able to use this information to tackle issues early on before they got... [...]

DJ Miller There is no universally “right” or “wrong” way to market a product or service. Marketing strategies varies from company to company, depending on a number of factors. A marketer might choose to use different tactics to market to an older generation than a younger one, for instance, or for a therapeutic massage service as opposed to an oil change service. That being said, there are certain things every marketer should keep in mind. Here are eight tips for highly effective marketers. Plan Believe it or not, many marketers forget to make plans. They are so focused... [...]

By Jo Guzman Over the years it has been getting harder and harder to hold the attention of a visitor on our websites, so it is important to understand what are some of the best ways to get someone to focus on your site and stay there for a while. To assist with making your website successful, here are some ideas  that you can implement into your site. Quality Content The first and most important part of any website is going to be the content that is inside of it. Having content that your target demographic would actually enjoy is going to be a major factor in whether or not they will stay on your... [...]

by DJ Miller Working together is easier when you have the right apps to support collaboration. Try these top Google apps to make your next business project a breeze. Mind Map Memo PRO Price: $2.17 Of all the mind mapping apps that work on Android devices, Mind Map Memo PRO gives you the most for your money. This app makes it easy for you to create new mind maps or open existing mind maps in .mmm or SD formats. If you can sketch a map on a piece of paper, then you can use this app. Actually, you don’t even need the ability to draw a simple sketch, since it comes with pre-formatted... [...]

by D.J. Miller If your business is going to thrive, it won’t be enough to have just a website and a blog; you’ll need a social media presence as well. But if you’re new to social media, you need to approach it the carefully. Mistakes made here could ruin your reputation for a long time. Consider the following pitfalls and avoid them. Not Having a Plan Anyone can join a social network, but to go into it without a plan is a waste of time and effort. Research how your social media presence can further your company marketing or customer service strategy. Know how social media works in... [...]

As an affiliate marketer or a merchant, you know how much of a vital role that reports play in tracking the success of any affiliate marketing campaign. Both merchants and affiliate marketers will review dashboards and reports on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis to see how the current campaign is performing, how many leads are being generated, how many sales are being reported, how many click-throughs the campaign has achieved, and how much is being earned in commissions. Without periodical audits that can be analysed, an affiliate marketing venture cannot be successful, but there are a wide range... [...]