Our Social Media Bloghttp://www.jayrodchicago.com/blog/en-US2010-03-12T15:26:42ZSquarespace Site Server v5.9.2 (http://www.squarespace.com/)6 things you can accomplish with social mediahttp://www.jayrodchicago.com/blog/2010/3/8/6-things-you-can-accomplish-with-social-media.htmlJay Rodriguez2010-03-08T10:09:17Zbusiness increase awareness increase feedback increase sales increase web traffic social media social networkingPresence without a purpose is a waste of time. Great, you have a storefront, but why here? Why offer what you’re offering? Is there even a need in that area of town?

The same questions can be applied to social media tactics. It’s fundamental. Don’t just jump on the social media bandwagon because “others are doing it.”

Here are six things your business can accomplish with social media:

Become a brand ambassador on Facebook

1)Increased web traffic. Let’s say your goal is to get a higher organic rating on search engines. (An organic rating is a nonpaid listing on search engines, like when someone Googles your name. You really should appear first. Well, what if they Google your industry and location? Where are you at? [ie. florist in Darien, Ill.] That’s when organic listings come in play) If your target is increased web traffic, then link building and social bookmarking would be for you.

2)Increased sales. There are hundreds of ways you can lead prospects to sales. These highlighted words are called anchor text, which lead to my contact page, which leads to a potential sale. In the lower left hand side of the page is a “conversion form” for a free white paper, which requires an e-mail. Why is it called a conversion form? We convert your desire of free information for an e-mail address. We use your e-mail address (with care) to send out our newsletter. It’s all in the process of converting your appreciation of this free knowledge into a sale.

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3)Increased Awareness. Letting people know about a new promotion, a new sale or a new product, etc. hasn’t been this affordable since Word of Mouth. Using social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube can raise an awareness of your brand at a cost of $0 to post.

4)Increased feedback. Let your customers speak. Social media is not a megaphone, it’s a telephone. Encourage feedback through poll widgets, Twitter, Facebook walls and more. Use that feedback to improve your product offerings. Plus, you’ll often find “feedback” tabs along the side of many websites now. Those are widgets that can go on any site. Maybe it will work for yours.

5)Increased conversation. Decide what type of conversation you want to have about your industry. Pick one? Great. Now create a cool hashtag for Twitter (ie. #beefchicago for great beef sandwich restaurants around town). I’ll use JayRodChicago as an example. We’re launching a video series of recommended social media tools beginning March 9. Our hashtag is going to be #SSMvideos or SimpleSocialMedia videos (Our Facebook URL is Facebook.com/SimpleSocialMedia – hence, #SSM). We plan on starting a conversation among social media professionals from around the world who will suggest their favorite social media tools out there. Try it for your industry, or even try it with your customers!

Get a notice every Monday, when a new blog is posted

6)Increased recognition. So you need to toot your own horn once in a while. Try PitchEngine. Our clients have had great success with them. The cool thing about social media press release sites (like PitchEngine) is you can include your videos, social links AND the news you have all in one location. Very useful!

So those are the six things you can accomplish with social media. We’d like to hear from you if you think there are more. Use the comments section below!

Jason M. Rodriguez is an Internet Engagement Strategist and owner of JayRodChicago.com.

]]>Four ways on how social media can bring out the worst in your businesshttp://www.jayrodchicago.com/blog/2010/3/1/four-ways-on-how-social-media-can-bring-out-the-worst-in-you.htmlJay Rodriguez2010-03-01T13:41:30ZJayRodChicago business chicago facebook fail jay rodriguez plan social media social media consulting social networking twitterObviously, I’m a huge proponent of internet marketing, social media and social networking. As a small business who serves small- and medium-sized businesses, a struggle we constantly face is the business owner’s nephew or niece who “knows about” social networking and has a Facebook or Twitter account, so (for a little spending money) a business owner hires them to create their presence on these platforms.

Bad idea.

Social media undoubtedly can help your business grow financially and with a larger customer base, but without being prepared by a business consultant or a social media professional, it can make your brand look horribly bad.

Here are four ugly business faces that can rise to the surface of your campaign if your social media efforts are put in the wrong hands:

1)No focus. If you have no reason for being on a particular social media channel (ie. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare, etc.), then that shows. How many of you are fans of companies and not hear from them at all? Too many of you! We cringe when we ask “Why are you on Facebook?” and the answer is “Because everyone else is on there.” Without  a purpose, you simply have a presence – and that is inadequate!

2)No foundation. You have a pretty website. Meaning, it looks wonderful and you spent thousands of dollars to make sure it “looks” wonderful. But, how functional is it? Do you have a landing page? Calls to action? Are you prepared to take online reservations or purchases? Can people use credit cards or shopping carts your site? You get the picture. Much like all the prep work that is done before you unlock the doors of your storefront, a lot of prep work needs to be done before you launch your website and any social media campaign.

3)Unclear message. All of your efforts on various social media channels need to collaborate with each other to one clear message.

4)Unprepared for growth. Picture this: You want to be on Facebook because “everyone else is.” You hire your nephew and by some odd chance, something gets picked up (popular) and you go viral. Your phones are ringing off the hook and orders are coming in quicker than you can fulfill them. So now, the world or your town or region knows what you’ve known for years: you have the greatest product out there. Only problem: your service is terrible because you’re unprepared for growth. Your reviews on Google and Yelp start going downhill and you’re back to the place you started.

Jason M. Rodriguez is an Internet Engagement Strategist with JayRodChicago.com. He blogs every Monday at www.JayRodChicago.com/blog. Subscribe here. He can be reached here.

]]>The Forgotten Audience of Social Mediahttp://www.jayrodchicago.com/blog/2010/2/21/the-forgotten-audience-of-social-media.htmlJay Rodriguez2010-02-22T04:52:53Zemployees forgotten audience social mediaYes, there has been an aspect of social media that is often overlooked. They are often thought of when a company is trying to get its social media campaign/conversation off the ground, but sometimes forgotten as the wheels turn. Social media, in its very definition, forgets these folks and they are at the crux of whether or not your business succeeds. Yes, I’m talking about your employees.

Employees are an incredible asset to any company at which they are hired, but did you know that Bob in receiving edits audio for his band? Or Lucy, the head of human resources, took improv classes at The Second City? Or Cheryl has spent hours studying how to best optimize a video on YouTube as her Plan B in case you lay her off? : ) You get the picture.

Our Facebook Fans have more fun.

We, as a society, have become digital assets to companies and, responsibly, can use our reach on social networking sites as ways to draw people to your business.

Here are 3 ways you can incorporate employees in your social media plan:

1)Every social media plan needs a marketing calendar. Ask for employees’ input with the next marketing calendar. Though some are reading this and saying, “We’ll be lucky to survive past May,” you still need a marketing calendar. The reason? You need to know where you’ve been to determine where you’re going. What were your busiest times of year? What did employees feel like when they were contributing to the team during that time? Most importantly, what were customers saying about that time? Can those actions be re-lived in the near future? When? With a marketing calendar, you will have an answer. Add employee input to that mix and you’ll have a stronger marketing campaign than you’ve ever had before.

Wanna get re-tweeted? Those who follow us on Twitter have a great chance at doing so!

2)Use social media tools to gather input. The first ones that come to mind are TeamBox and Google Wave. These are internal, idea-sharing websites (kind of like an intranet) that are free. Have talented workers that come in third shift and are not able to meet at the usual 9 a.m. meeting? These two tools are great at allowing multiple employees a chance to work together without having to be in the same room.

3)Go YouTube viral. Have a brainstorming session in which you can build teamwork and gather ideas for a killer YouTube video. Have fun with it, deliver your message and challenge your competitors to respond. Who knows? You may create a fun back-and-forth competitive atmosphere among businesses in your community.

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You undoubtedly have other great ideas for how to incorporate employees in your social media plan. Let me know below!

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]]>I Digg the five-year anniversaryhttp://www.jayrodchicago.com/blog/2010/2/16/i-digg-the-five-year-anniversary.htmlJay Rodriguez2010-02-16T14:09:52Zanniversary digg social bookmarking social mediaOK, so I’m a little behind. Digg, the popular social media news sharing site that lets readers rate their favorites, turned five recently. Digg has systematically changed the way we look at news and entertainment. They’ve effectively opened the doors of a newsroom and let Internet users become the day’s news editor.

Check out this video for a brief history of the company.

Become a fan of our Simple Social Media Facebook page for brand and business tips: www.facebook.com/simplesocialmedia

The statistics are staggering. What’s more is the fact that digg may be having a little trouble financially. Check out the latest news on Wikipedia’s digg entry.

Follow us on Twitter for useful social media articles: www.twitter.com/jayrodchicago

Never dug a story before? It’s pretty simple. Go to our blog (www.JayRodChicago.com/blog) and pick out a blog that you like. Scroll down and click on the “Share article” link. Find digg and click it. After a quick registration, you have dug your first article. Keep digg among your favorites and share useful information with diggnation when you come across it!

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Before you go, check out a prototype of what digg may look like in the future!

Jason M. Rodriguez is the owner of www.JayRodChicago.com – a social media, PR, marketing and business writing company based in Chicago. He specializes in designing social media conversations and campaigns for businesses. He can be reached here.

]]>How Toyota could better use Social Media to help with Brand Managementhttp://www.jayrodchicago.com/blog/2010/2/15/how-toyota-could-better-use-social-media-to-help-with-brand.htmlJay Rodriguez2010-02-15T06:11:34Zbrand management business business image social mediaI have to admit I cringed when I heard Toyota going the route of traditional marketing without a mention of inbound marketing to help save face from the recent embarrassing recalls. I hear their radio apology and quest to get better, which is great, but what I do not hear is a call for engagement.

In this day and age, by spending the type of money they undoubtedly did on a traditional marketing campaign, they should have included [among their marketing goals] one that would help build their list of brand ambassadors. Brand ambassadors would be the ones who have purchased or currently drive Toyota’s products and are rather proud to be owners (or past owners).

I, for one, am a Toyota owner. Stories about how bad the situation with sticky accelerators and more began to get to me. And it wasn’t until a family member needed a “jump” after a recent winter storm here in Chicago. Yes, my Toyota that lasted overnight in the frigid cold and snow was primed and ready to jump the unnamed brand of vehicle that was sitting in the garage all night with a frozen battery.

Become a fan of our Simple Social Media Facebook page for brand and business tips: www.facebook.com/simplesocialmedia

That’s when it hit me! “Boy, I betcha Toyota would love to hear a story about that,” I said to myself. Well, why aren’t they asking for it? Here are three ideas that Toyota should be using as a way to build brand ambassadors as their worldwide brand takes a beating.

Have a contest on YouTube – You have people worldwide who are talented, creative, innovative and more. Have them come up with a commercial, jingle or testimonial on why they love their Toyota. I mean, this idea isn’t a new one. It seems every year there are companies asking for submissions from their customers for their Super Bowl commercials!

Twiddle me this – Start a conversation among Twitter users on how Toyota can better improve its product.

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Facebook fan page contest – Give away a Toyota. Yes, I said it. Give one away. Get fans of your Facebook page to offer a testimonial at what makes Toyota better than its competitors. I’m not just talking about some of the simple stuff like “I like the sun roof” in this model. Have your fans research the engineering aspect of what makes Toyota better than the others. Entries it receives can be used for future testimonials either in traditional or inbound marketing efforts.

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Use this article from Mashable to properly implement your campaign and you’re well on your way to running a successful brand management conversation!

Jason M. Rodriguez is the owner of www.JayRodChicago.com – a social media, PR, marketing and business writing company based in Chicago. He specializes in designing social media conversations and campaigns for businesses. He can be reached here.

]]>Bye-Bye Facebook and Twitter?http://www.jayrodchicago.com/blog/2010/2/9/bye-bye-facebook-and-twitter.htmlJay Rodriguez2010-02-09T21:29:13ZGoogle Google Buzz facebook orkut social networking twitterGoogle just announced it is entering the social networking arena for the third public attempt at success. (Remember the Orkut purchase/fail in the United States? How about the multi-billion offer for Facebook in 2006?) Now, Google Buzz is all the buzz.

Google announced it planned on adding the social networking feature as part of its popular G-Mail e-mail feature.

Less game apps, better search methods and easier filtering tools are some things I hope a new social networking site would provide. How about you?

]]>Six social media tips on how to leverage the Super Bowl in your favorhttp://www.jayrodchicago.com/blog/2010/2/1/six-social-media-tips-on-how-to-leverage-the-super-bowl-in-y.htmlJay Rodriguez2010-02-01T06:50:24ZSuper Bowl commercials facebook fan page social media twitter videoWell, the big game is upon us. Whether you’re rooting for the Indianapolis Colts, the New Orleans SaintsGo Colts! or could care less who wins, it could mean big business if you know how to leverage the audience to your favor.

Here are six tips to help you create a stir on your website and create an engagement opportunity for your current customers and potential customers.

1) Pick you staff’s favorite all-time commercials from the Super Bowl – Take a quick poll. Everyone remembers at least one or two classic commercials. Get the embed of the commercial (found to the right of YouTube videos) and post your staff’s favorites with a picture of that staff member and why they think it was so funny. Ask visitors to comment on what they think about your staff members’ selection.  NOTE: In every case possible, try to use the corporation’s exact embed or link to avoid any legal problems or “cease and desist” letters. Sometimes, as with my two favorites below, it is not always possible. Need help finding official videos? Start here.

2) Tweet them- During the game and leading up to it, go on Twitter and show the world your staff’s favorite videos. Remember to use hash (#) tags because that is among the favorite ways people search and follow you. Try these: #funny #commercials #SuperBowl #Colts #Saints

3) Submit to your Facebook fans- Make your staff members temporary administrators for your fan site and let them post their favorite commercial. Let your customers see which Super Bowl commercials your staff members selected as their favorites and watch the comments flow!

4) Throw a Super Bowl special- If one team hits a certain amount of points at any point during the game on the dot (let’s say 15), then the first 15 customers who print your Google coupon [and uses it] get 15 percent off.

5) Ask your customers to make a Super Bowl commercial for you- Companies, like CareerBuilder, are doing this already. Do it on a scale in which your customers can produce something for you. Offer a coupon for the best one, as voted on by your staff (or better yet- as voted on by your customers. The latter, however, would take a while!)

6) Keep it up for a week or two- People will be talking about Super Bowl ads for a while. Keep yours online for a week or two. You never know what kind of traffic it may bring!

Without further ado, here are my two favorites. Comment below to let me know what you think!

Washington Mutual

 

Career Builder

]]>7 Google tools for contenthttp://www.jayrodchicago.com/blog/2010/1/25/7-google-tools-for-content.htmlJay Rodriguez2010-01-25T23:27:00ZGoogle blogging content newspapers reporters research social media toolsThose who are in social media know that content is king. Who is king of content? Google.

It is so powerful, it’s a verb. How often are your told to “Google” something?

So when we had the chance to meet with Google Chicago staffers on how journalists could best use Google to get their research done, we jumped.

Whether you are a reporter, student, blogger, social media professional or a business owner, we hope these tips will help make your job gathering content a bit easier.

Be sure to add your Google tips in the comment area below!

Relaxation at Google Calif. Headquarters1) Uncle Sam (Government documents)- So, the Internet is flooded with information, but how much of it can we trust? Google has a specific area for government documents. Check it out here: http://www.google.com/unclesam

2) Scholar (Archived articles, legal documents)- If you’re a reporter, you’re undoubtedly familiar with Lexus-Nexus. Next time you have to search for archived articles, try http://scholar.google.com/. Who knows? You may use this more than Lexus-Nexus, save your newspaper some money and eventually save the journalism industry! (OK, maybe that’s a bit too far.)

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3) Public data (Analyzing federal/state documents)- So, you’re wanting to get a hold of official figures to Who needs stairs at Google HQ?use in an article, presentation or blog that is pertinent to your county or state. Check out what this link can do for you: http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=wb-wdi

4) Trends- Want to know what all the buzz is about? What is everyone talking about (or searching?) Check here http://www.google.com/trends and compare it to what you see as hot topics on Twitter.

Did you know that we offer consulting?

Pool hall after work? HA!5) Insights- Check out the rising product searches in the United States.http://www.google.com/insights/search/#

6) Reader- Helps you find and keep track of interesting stuff on the web. You can subscribe to your favorite websites, see what your friends are sharing, and keep up with what's popular. New content comes to your Google Reader when it's posted, so you don't need to visit individual sites.http://www.google.com/reader

7) Maps- Customize a map for your business’ location, website, or to be used in articles online.http://maps.google.com/help/maps/mymaps/create.htmlRelax. You work at Google.

 

Check out what we’ve done for our clients and call us at (312) 515-9459 today to launch your social media plan.

]]>3 questions to ask before getting started in social mediahttp://www.jayrodchicago.com/blog/2010/1/15/3-questions-to-ask-before-getting-started-in-social-media.htmlJay Rodriguez2010-01-15T19:45:50ZGoogle presence LinkedIn chicago facebook landing page link building social bookmarking social media twitterSo far, the calls our company has received this year have been from individuals who want to get their social networking sites off the ground. It’s almost a resolution they made for 2010.

The single most important thing to get started with social networking doesn’t even have to do with social networking. It’s having a landing page. Here are things you have to consider before getting started:

1)      What is my primary goal for getting involved with social networking? Is it for sales? Is it for web traffic and awareness? Is it to get a job? Why do you want to get your social media off the ground? Once you define this, you will have direction of where to go in social media.

Become a fan on Facebook (We look so much prettier in person)

2)      Do I have a landing page? If you’re selling something, you need a landing page. You need to direct the traffic from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more to a site that has your pricing, your contact information or whatever relates to your goal as mentioned in the first bullet point.

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3)      Where am I on Google and where do I want to be? Is your involvement to increase web traffic? Where is your site now on search engines? Is it mentioned on other sites and what do those sites say about you? If you want to improve your rank on Google, then work on foundation first (remember the landing page?) and begin a social bookmarking and link building program.

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Everyone wants to leap into social media feet first, but without the proper foundation, it will be all for naught as you spend more time spinning your wheels and less time being productive or making money.

We increase your web traffic, your presence on search engines, set up and implement your social networking sites and so much more. Contact us today or call (312) 515-9459.

]]>Three short reasons why size DOESN’T matter in social mediahttp://www.jayrodchicago.com/blog/2010/1/11/three-short-reasons-why-size-doesnt-matter-in-social-media.htmlJay Rodriguez2010-01-11T17:25:40Zblogging business marketing public relations size doesn't matter social media social networkingLook – size matters for some things in life, but not social media. Much like a website, and other things in life, if you don’t do anything with it or don’t know how to do anything with it, it’s worthless.

Here are three instances where size does not matter:

Size of blog – I get this one all the time. “How long does my blog have to be?” I refer to the social media rule: Content is King. If you have great content, people will keep coming back. So forget about word count in your blog. Think of content and deliver it with link attribution.

Become a fan on Facebook (We do more than just count you as a number!)

Size of friends or fans – Bragging about number of friends or fans is like bragging about the number of kids that went to your high school – it means nothing unless you’ve reached out and networked with each and every one of them. Contacts are one thing, but what you do with them is totally another. If you have no foundation and no plan for what to do with them when you acquire them, you’ve wasted your time gathering the friends.

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Number of networks – Having an expanded online presence is fantastic. Having so many online accounts that you can’t keep up with them is ridiculous. Pick and choose the ones you can handle and the ones you can outsource. Stick with those and watch your social media family flourish into sales leads and an awesome tool for feedback.

Keep your social media plan under control and out of your hands. Outsource it to us!

I want to hear in what instances size doesn’t matter for your social media efforts. Comment below!

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