Author Archives: jgbsocial

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What Google+ is Really Offering

by: Jamey Brown 


Earlier today I read a great article by Robert Hof that tapped into the struggles Google has conveying to its users “why they should care about Google+.” And to be honest, there isn’t a clean cut answer to this. Google cannot even answer it directly. But, my question is, at least for now, is this a bad thing?

Right now Google has one of the best long term visions compared to any other major company. What is this vision? Well, it’s to slowly corale each internet user (so basically, everybody) to think of Google not as only a piece of the internet, but the internet. Facebook has done a great job of building a large social house, but it is still having trouble expanding outside those walls. Now I know it has over 1 billion users, but that number can only be sustained for so long with the correct advancements. Google is taking things from a much more outward to inward approach, thus making it take more time, but in the end it has the potential to be much more of a universal tool than Facebook (who is taking the inward to outward approach).

Google+ was the “social network” that was introduced to not just be a rival to Facebook. No. It was created as a piece of the puzzle that will in years to come make more sense than it does today. How will it “make sense”? Once Google gets comfortable with the development aspects of Google+, users will then be able to really get used to its functionality. After this step, the essential tie between content on Google+ and that same content in Google Search will be a very attractive aspect. But see, these are just two pieces of the pie. The Google real estate that includes Earth, +, Search, Glass, Ads, YouTube, etc. will eventually become its own universe entirely. That is the plan, but the final question that begs to be asked is will it work? The plan is there. The digital real estate is there. But can the execution be done well enough to convince regular users? Time will tell.

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Why Forums Are Still Cool

by: Jamey Brown

Remember these? Although they may seem a bit archaic, they are one of the first forms of social media. I’ll admit, until recently I hadn’t engaged in a forum since I was younger (when that’s all there really was). But I’ve had to delve into this digital domain head first since one of our clients is ramping up a new push for them. That being said, I forgot how engaging they were. It is a much more long-winded type speak, with a lot of room to become an influencer in your industry. I have also gotten some great practice from the Social Media Examiner Clubs which are great for anyone in this field. Forums are still very cool and yes, people are still talking in them. So, find some that pertain to your industry and give them a shot. (Hint: a good place to start is Google+ Communities. These are forums disguised in social media camouflage)

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5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Implementing a Social Media Strategy

by: Jamey Brown

In my head it goes: goal setting – brainstorm – idea pool – checks and balances – strategy – tactics – finished plan. This has been my process for developing strategy plans thus far. Everyone’s strategy development is different, but the overarching themes can be applicable to all. Oh yeah, and strategy (since I see it everywhere and no real description attached) is the high level plan(s) that’s built to achieve certain, pre-determined goals. Tactics are the executional steps that help achieve the overarching goals of the strategy. So, before you make the jump to executional, think of these five questions while you are developing your overarching strategic plan.

1. What are my goals? Short term? And long term?

It’s all pointless if you are not striving to hit certain goals you’ve set. There needs to a be a concise list of short term, immediate goals you want to knock out, and then a concise list of the big, 6 month-ish goals you want to achieve over time. Determining goals is the very first step.

2. Will I need 1 overarching strategy? Or several?

Sometimes, multiple strategies are needed if the client you are working with is a large one and has multiple large goals to achieve on a more corporate branding level. That and the fact that they could have a campaign that seeks to accomplish two very different things. Do I recommend them implementing a bipolar campaign? No. But sometimes several strategies are needed to accomplish different sets of goals.

3. What tactics do I need in place to fulfill the goals of my strategy?

VERY IMPORTANT. These are the mechanical pieces that keep the big machine running. You need actionable steps that say, “this is how you are going to actually do it on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis.”

4. Is my strategy fulfilling BOTH my long term and short term goals?

Always go back and double check yourself. Asking this question forces you to keep your goals on your mind at all times. Sometimes “creativity” can blind people’s strategic thinking and “cool” can take a front seat very fast. DON’T let this happen. Goals are always #1! Let cool and creativity come naturally.

5. What is the lifespan (timeline) of this strategy? 

Simple. How long will this plan be in place? Again, determine how long you think it will take to accomplish the long term goals at hand and build a strategy that reflects that timeline. It could be three months; it could be one year. Give yourself checkpoints along the way.

What are some other steps you implement before developing a new social media strategy plan? 

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“The Hard Is What Makes It Great”

by: Jamey Brown

 

The life of a Community Manager, Strategist or Director is a hard one. One that sometimes has weeks where you want to pull out your hair, click “hang up” on a conference call and power off all devices. These weeks entail late nights, constant writing, and organizational skills that some think don’t even exist.

But when it’s all said and done, and you’ve put in the time and the hard work, watch this clip after each of these weeks. Make it a ritual. Exhale, because these weeks are the hard weeks. The ones that separate the good from great. And as you exhale, know that you conquered the hard, you achieved Community Manager greatness. Because in the end, if it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.

 

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We Humans Sure Do Love Repetition

by: Jamey Brown

When pushing out content or messaging it may seem repetitive to you, but the more frequent that message is pushed out (during the campaign duration) the bigger the reach will be.

Do not go overboard (and you will feel it when you go over the line), but repurpose your content and messaging so that it can reach a variety of users in your audience.

Remember, when you feel thoroughly annoyed by pushing out the same content, that’s the same time you have just made a decent impression in the market.

 

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Don’t Let Content Overwhelm You

by: Jamey Brown

This morning as I arose with the sounds of Atlanta’s Midtown outside my window, I already had social on the brain. Today is a busy day in terms of monitoring certain communities and tidying things up simply to be prepared for this week. So, per usual, I got up, flipped on the coffee and plugged in.

Right now, at this very moment, I have six tabs open. One is Gmail. Four are social networks. The last one is WordPress (I guess technically another social network, but let’s not pick over small cookies). With this plethora of content at my fingertips, how do I filter it all to what I want? How do I not have a panic attack because there’s. just. so. much.? Well, it’s easy, manage yourself, not the networks.

Right now, I have too much content available at one time. Space things out into small segments of time. Overload can be detrimental.

Schedule what you want to get out of the next hour. I need to reply to some e-mails. I need to check my Google+ Communities and I need to monitor two specific LinkedIn Groups. These three things are priority for the next hour. So, I can remove my Twitter and Facebook tabs for now (and the WordPress one after I finish writing this on my break! Ha!)

Take your time. Content is much more effectively absorbed if you actually slow things down a bit and digest what you are reading AS you read it. Say it back to yourself.

Take small breaks. Now this does not work for everybody, but I am much more effective if I review something for 30 minutes and then take a 5-10 minute break. Rinse and repeat this and you will be surprised how much you get done by the end of the day.

Breathe. Remember, there’s always a tomorrow. Knock out what is priority for the next 24 hours, breathe and begin to schedule into the week.

What are some other content management tips you’ve found to be useful?  

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6 Reasons Why “Driving Traffic” is Vital

by: Jamey Brown

On my way home for Easter this weekend (from Atlanta to Athens, Georgia) I had to stop, turn off the main highway and go around, through a gas station, and get back onto the main highway about 500 feet down the road. Why? A water line had busted, thus forcing cars to have to go around and reconnect to the same road a few hundred feet further down. Pulling through the gas station, along with all of the other cars, and back onto the main highway I thought, “I was redirected here. And now, I am in front of this gas station and I am a little hungry…” The bottom line: I was driven, directed to a destination where I could potentially make a purchase for something I wanted. Now, I understand gas stations are a hard comparison because they offer various things (as opposed to an ad that offers a specific product or service), but the real life metaphor got me thinking…

Cost effective social ad buys must be specifically targeted. The more targeted, typically, the better results.

Aim for the enthusiasts. In the end, they will convert and convince more than anyone else.

Make sure your destination is inline with your ads. User confusion ends in click-offs and no conversions.

Monitor your campaigns daily. Be it traditional Facebook ads, promoted posts, Twitter trends, etc. Always know what’s doing well and what’s not.

In conjunction with the above, adjust your ad images, copy, spend, interests, demographics, etc. based on what is working and what isn’t.

Rinse and repeat. If you had a successful ad campaign that had a high CTR and a plethora of page views and visits on the destination you wanted, then repeat that strategy! Be wary though, some adjustments might need to be made as all campaigns aim towards different people.

 

What have you found to be a successful way to drive traffic to the destination you want? 

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YouTube’s Facelift, Just In Case You Forgot

by: Jamey Brown

YouTube’s made some channel changes. Drop a “like” or “dislike” in the comments section.

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A Letter To My Family (the 25 Years of Age Update)

by: Jamey Brown

So I got to the office early today. Poured my coffee. Turned on my computer. Teed up my to-do’s list. And began clicking. But this morning was different than other mornings – and you can ask my coworkers, I cherish my early morning time. This morning I could not stop thinking of what it is I do and why I do it. Sometimes we get so caught up in doing what we love we don’t have time to actually love it. So, I switched over to my personal e-mail account and decided to write a letter to my family (which, sadly, I rarely do). Below is what I wrote, with inspiration from Chris Pirillo - following is the response from my father (the best man I know):

Hi Family, 

You know, I grew up in the world of sports and hard work. Sweating was what equalled success. And believe me, that is the mentality I still have, and always will have. But today, my interests have shifted – not changed, just altered (bc I still love cracking some beers and watching a Braves game and obviously a UGA game. That will never go away). But now, I consider myself a “geek” and a “nerd.” Deep down that’s what I enjoy on a daily basis. I enjoy digital media, social media, screenwriting, nerding out with movies, tv shows, certain comics. That being said, I think what makes the difference, what makes it a career, is the business side that goes along with it – the drive to get others talking about it and connecting with the zealots out there. Rallying people for a cause, expo or brand is what I love to do. And today, that is best done by storytelling – a gift I think I have. I lack in a lot of areas (don’t we all?), but I feel I am here right now, right here to do what I am doing. Many people can’t say that with an honest face. Moving aside from my genetically passed down philosophical points of view, I wanted to share a quick 2 minute video. Please watch with full sound (the music is good). I have been following this dude for a while and seen him make his career. How did he do this? He unapologetically loves what he does and has made a thriving career for himself. Yet with all the digital and tech in his life he lives in beautiful Seattle with his wife and values relationships – real, connected relationships. He values how digital and tech can help better our real life relationships and day to day activities. That is a hard combo to find. Therefore, I find this as genuine inspiration. So again, please watch below with headphones, let it sink in and cheers to change and loving what you do. 

 
Just had some time to give you all a 25 years of age update, 
Your son
RESPONSE FROM MY DAD 30 MINUTES LATER BELOW
I am pleased that you are able to do something you are passionate about, and  have the work ethic you have developed-maintain it as you will need it throughout life. The fact that your primary interests and focus may have changed is part of life-but I have never cared for a “classification”-it implies being one dimensional which I don’t think is good or healthy. Follow your passion-enjoy what you enjoy-but remember this statement (I can’t take credit for it) – “To label me is to negate me”. 
 
Be a compilation of ALL of your interests, past, present and future- your influence upon others will be heightened.

 
We’re proud of you, son.

DAD 

First off, I think it’s safe to say my father is awesome. Secondly, I know it is hard to do what you love and make a career out of it. You are going to have horrible days and you are going to struggle and be unhappy at times. But as long as you are working hard at what you love doing then it is always worth it. Always.

- Jamey

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5 Ways You Can Effectively Harness YouTube

by: Jamey Brown

YouTube reaches 1 billion people per month. Let me repeat, YouTube reaches 1 billion people per month. That’s almost 15% of the world. YouTube is dominating the world, literally. So how can this massive reach be activated correctly? Even as a social marketer it is still hard to sometimes wrap my head around how YouTube can generate leads, create brand awareness and encourage or produce sales. It is still seen as a nesting hub for multimedia content for brands – not all, but many. Here are 5 ways that YouTube can be creatively used to further brand awareness, create good word-of-mouth and generate sales.

1. Include CTA’s in the video itself – ask your audience to take action in the comment thread below. Or better yet, in real life. You’ve made the effort to produce this video content, so get as much out of it as you can. Activate your audience visually. Trust me, it sticks.

2. Create branded playlists – YouTube hosts all genres of videos. If applicable, create playlists for specific purposes of your brand. For example, if you are a bakery brand that bakes a diverse group of foods it would be smart to have quick “how to’s” playlist of each food (ie. cakes, breads, etc.) By doing this you will create a hub that your users can continue to come back to and use as a source. Retaining users and being seen as a leader in your industry are huge wins.

3. Properly brand ALL aspects of your channel – everything from your skin to your channel picture should be sharply branded. Along with this, make sure your channel is integrated with ALL of your other social platforms. This information lives in your Channel Art photo and will allow users to browse your other branded networks with just once click.

4. Tag, title and link each video… correctly – this is the “no-brainer” of the group. Always make sure your keywords are applicable to the video. Make sure they are ACTUAL words users type in to search your product – put yourself in the seat of the average person searching something within the ballpark of your product. Also, title your video with good keywords that people will actually search. Put your creative ego aside and title your videos for results, not shininess.

5. Don’t be afraid to engage - when subscribers (or non-subscribers) start commenting, engage back! Keep the conversation going just like you would on Facebook or Twitter. A brand voice needs to exist on all platforms, not on only certain ones.

Create a catchy trailer video (Bonus) – when users land this will be the first thing they see. So, make it concise and make it connect. 

What are some other ways YouTube can be harnessed effectively?