social business

Facebook marketing: rethink / shutterstock

There are thousands of articles written about Facebook each week - some claiming it has changed the way they do business, others saying it has been a flop and a waste of money. Behind it all is one simple idea: marketing. It is also something I like to call "the Facebook Problem."[read more]

link baiting

Now more than ever, you have to be careful about what you do if you’re planning on building links for your site. If you go about it the wrong way, it’ll end up hurting your business more than helping it. Here's a guide for how to get away from traditional link-baiting and stay on Google's good side.[read more]

Google+ Ripples (image: Bearseye/Flickr)

One of the hidden gems within Google+ that a lot of long-time users still aren't aware of is Ripples. It's a powerful feature that is hidden within a drop down menu, so you may not have ever seen or noticed it. Here are some impressive ways to use Ripples to benefit your business.[read more]

Facebook follies (image: Alan via Compfight)

These ten Facebook tips are pretty straightforward and easy to follow. It amazes me to still see businesses get it wrong! This is not just for the newbies; I’m seeing well established brands and businesses make these mistakes as well. Here's what every Facebook Page owner should know.[read more]

Conversions vs. traffic

Even the most brilliant SEO strategies will be for naught if the site itself fails to entice customers to actually buy. Slice and dice your site traffic analytics all you want. But at the end of the day, what rings the cash register is actionable solutions you can use to improve your customer experience.[read more]

Social media management: crisis mode

Crises happen, so you’d better be prepared! Nowadays, the internet makes crisis situations more challenging since it enables them to spread very rapidly. But if you have a social media management tool, you can receive an email notification to alert you sooner rather than later.[read more]

social media footprint / shutterstock

A social media footprint is the trail that you leave behind for others to find every time you use a social media platform. Many brands are beginning to realize that something they shared in the past is not something they want others to see in the present. Find out how to refine your footprint.[read more]

Social media types

Corporations desperately want to stake their claims somewhere on social media because, more and more, that’s where the party’s at. Trouble is, they suck at being human and being human is THE core competency that social media demands of its users.[read more]

LinkedIn tagging

LinkedIn has finally introduced in-status tagging, which has been part of Facebook and Google+ for a long time. This feature makes it far easier for people to follow companies mentioned. Here’s a quick guide we’ve pulled together to show you how to use this new feature.[read more]

Pinterest tools

Pinterest is a great tool for businesses (when used effectively), and I'm seeing more engagement, sharing and traffic back as a result of using it. Here are my favorite Pinterest tools and how they can help manage, measure and enhance the Pinterest experience.[read more]

Video marketing for sales and ROI

Videos have the ability to connect with prospects in a way you can’t through text, e-mail, or even a phone call. This is especially significant because in sales, you’re selling yourself: the product comes after you’ve established a connection. Here's a look at some different types of video marketing.[read more]

Tumblr content for businesses

This article is part of a series that explores the business benefits of the social media platform Tumblr. Even if you have a good understanding of the many different types of available Tumblr posts, there are still a number of ways to actually use Tumblr’s tools to interact with your audience.[read more]

Facebook threaded comments

You’ll have heard by now that the Facebook threaded comments feature recently started rolling out, allowing users to reply to specific comments in a thread. However, we would advise caution before deciding to opt in. What impact will it have on those who use third-party management tools?[read more]

Facebook business pages

Facebook allows businesses to build a community with the potential of turning a proportion of those community members into customers. Here is a basic yet comprehensive guide for business owners who have not yet gotten started with Facebook.[read more]

Native advertising outside the box / shutterstock

As this year’s newest addition to the marketing jargon handbook, native advertising challenges brands to think differently about both social engagement and advertising, and requires marketers to appeal to prospective customers in unique ways. Here are a few different types of Native Ads to consider.[read more]

Google+ vs. Facebook

There are tons of rumors floating around about how Google Plus will help you with your SEO rankings. While this may or may not true, it shouldn't be the sole reason to use G+. The reason to use G+ is to connect and converse with your audience.[read more]

online community failure / shutterstock

Online communities, when successful, can transform an organization and are an imperative for the future. Who wouldn’t want to develop better mechanisms for learning from their customers, prospects, employees, partners and other stakeholders? I share these failure factors not to frighten but to forewarn.[read more]

secret to social media

Social started out as an advertising or marketing initiative, but it will not end up there. Companies that understand what is truly going on with these technology developments have a new competitive weapon that will give the early adopters significant advantages over laggards: the "secret sauce."[read more]

Facebook optimization/shutterstock

Understanding the importance of first impressions, entrepreneurs spend time and money on a creating a professional wardrobe, quality printed marketing materials, and a stellar business Facebook page. But what does your personal Facebook Timeline say about you and your business?[read more]

social search

SEO tactics that worked three or four years ago are no reliable, because changes in Google algorithms have rendered many traditional SEO practices less effective. The new SEO, also known as search marketing integration (SMI), involves a variety of different elements, including social media.[read more]