Tag: Instagram

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Random Thoughts

Start Using Instagram Now!

Instagram Bandwagon

instagramI think we all need to jump on the Instagram bandwagon.  I have recently become a little obsessed with Instagram and if you are not a user yet you need to be.  Instagram is a great app created for sharing photos.  This app not only allows you to share photos, but it allows you to make small tweeks and edits to your photos right before you post them.  Why would you want to utilize this app?  Well, not only for personal usage it is great for staying connected with individuals, but this  can be a valuable tool for organizations to market their product.  Now in order to use Instagram as a marketing tool, you must go about this tactfully.  No one wants to see boring advertisements or sales pitches.  No one is going to follow you if they feel like all you are trying to do is sell them something.  Make an effort to come across as charming, funny, and personable.  Most organizations fall flat here.  I have seen way too many businesses use social media for pushing sales, while yes the end result is to get the consumer to buy, you first have to get them drawn in.

Draw them in through content that is:

  • Sharable
  • Funny
  • Entertaining

How To Use Instagram As A Marketing Tool

Instagram is a very underutilized tool.  Most businesses have stuck with the normal social networks to market themselves such as Twitter and Facebook.  However, human beings are visual creatures with short attention spans.  The best way to market your product through social media is through quick attention grabbing visuals. Instagram has been designed for this.  Cautionary note this may seem very time consuming to constantly be on the look out for fun and entertaining things to post and also to keep connected with your audience through replying to any posts, well that is because it is.  So, hire someone to do it for you.  The only way to guarantee success through social media is to hire a professional.  Check out SMIO today to hire someone to manage your social media platforms for you!

 

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Random Thoughts

The Future of Social Media

history of social media
History of social media

Is Facebook the Next My Space?

Noticeably we can see that social media is changing rapidly and has vastly changed since its creation. For example, take a look at Facebook alone, when Facebook was first designed is was solely created to be a form of communication between college students, requiring anyone to join the network to have a college (.edu) email address. However, Facebook grew and adapted to allow all users to use this application, and thus rapidly grew in popularity. However, research has now shown that Facebook is actually decreasing among users, especially the younger generation, namely teenagers. Now, I think most of use can remember, another social network that was once widely known and popularity, known by the name of My Space, which is no longer even relevant. Well, my point is that because of the face paced nature of online networking and social media usage, is Facebook the next My Space, will it be soon phased out? If so what is next? What will the next latest and greatest social network platform look like?

My Prediction

I predict that the next latest and greatest craze to social media, the next Facebook if you will, being very visual in nature, much like Instagram, Snapchat and Vine.  And also fast paced like Twitter, catering to our new generations shortened attention spans, therefore, allowing us not having to take the time to actually read through heartfelt time consuming posts, but gather everything we need in a limited number of characters.  I also anticipate the next latest craze incorporating more Facebook like qualities of giving users the ability to establish deeper more intimate relationships with one another through allowing a chat like feature, some sort of messaging feature, or a way to individually make connections with one another.  Therefore, within the next few years, I anticipate that the next latest and greatest social media network will be a hybrid of what has already been done successfully.  What do you think the next greatest social network will look like?

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Random Thoughts

Time

Best Times To Post
http://goo.gl/GtxNC6

I recently read an article that had an awesome infographic , and it depicted what time of the day is best to post.  Therefore, the article was based around time.  Take a look at the infographic as it breaks down each social media site and what is the best time to post on each.  While I found this article very useful, I also found it to be somewhat underdeveloped.  What I mean here is that significant social media sites were missing.  Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, and Youtube were all absent from this article.  I found this extremely odd, because these are major social media platforms that are consistently growing in popularity.  I also found it interesting that all of these platforms  are mainly used for visual representation.  Meaning we use these platforms to send visual types of information, such as pictures and videos.  This made me wonder, is there a different set of “posting” rules to follow when using platforms that are mainly visual in nature?

Now the article states specific periods throughout the day that are good to post and bad to post.  However, when it comes to using applications such as Snapchat is a message sent at 2am just as effective or seen just as positively as one sent at 2pm?  In my opinion, yes and no.  I think that these applications that are mainly used for visual representation can be just as effective if used in the wee hours of the morning or mid afternoon depending on the relationship the sender and the receiver of the message currently have with one another.

Okay, so what I mean here, is imagine it is 2am and you are receiving a Snapchat alert from…let’s say Social Media In’s and Out’s…advertising an infographic of their companies effectiveness as social media consultants.  What is your reaction?  Now, imagine the same scenario, but instead you receive a message from your significant other sending you some sort of heartfelt visual message.  Now what is your reaction?  My guess is your reaction would be very different if you received an advertisement at 2am versus a message from a loved one.  The relationship matters!  My point here is that the same rules do not apply to the sending and receiving of visual messages, such as through Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube, and Tumblr because concerning these types of messages the rules are unclear on what is acceptable and what is not.  So when is the best time to send a visual message through these applications…it really depends on who you are and who you are sending it to!

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Random Thoughts

Fiverr- Buying Fans

Buying fans and followers…I have discussed this before, but recently I have started working for a new company and it is common practice to buy fans and followers through a site called Fiverr. Now before working for this company I was totally against buying fans and followers, I did not understand why someone would want to do this…However, my views have somewhat changed.

So, first let me break down this site, Fiverr. What this site does is offer a place for freelance individuals to sell their services for a very low rate, usually $5. You can buy basically anything off this site for only $5. For example, I recently had someone create 4 different logos for me for just $10. One of the main attractions that this site offers is the buying and selling of fans/followers for various social networks and for a very low price. The networks include Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Now if you would do this through the actual social network sites themselves you would be paying way more than $5 for the amount of fans Fiverr guarantees you. I would caution you though, some sellers on Fiverr are more experienced than others and I would always chose a more experienced, higher rated seller. Meaning, always check the ratings before buying.

Now, an avid user of this site, my views on buying fans/followers has slightly changed…As I said previously I had no idea why someone would buy fans, what are you really gaining? Well for just 5 bucks you are gaining an immense following…which I know is not real. However, it looks real and it looks to others that you are an established organization that others follow and are interested in. It is all about image and if you appear to be desired, others will also find you desirable. You have to learn to play the game if you want to succeed.

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Tips and tricks

Tricks to Using Snapchat

snapchat

This video provides some interesting tips and tricks to using snapchat http://youtu.be/-NKOsYp1rLc

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Random Thoughts

Snapchat Utility

snapchat

A brief overview of what Snapchat is; it is a photograph app. allowing users to set a time limit to how long the viewers can view the image. After the time limit is up the picture is then unable to be viewed and is deleted from the Snapchat server.  Snapchat is a very user friendly app that allows its users to constantly stayed connected with one another through the use of images, these images can be seen as a way to express one’s self nonverbally through the use of images.  This app is also geared towards and popular with a relatively young demographic between the ages of 18-23 years of age.  So, I wonder how this popular tool can be used for marketing and organizational use?  My thoughts are this is untapped resource, especially if your brand targets a younger demographic, to get a message across very quickly.  As I have stated before, we are the right now generation and time is precious.  When we want something we want it now, there is no time to sit around watch a full 1-2 minute commercial.  Therefore, I think it is time for business’ to start utilizing this vital tool to get their message across in a very short amount of time.  However, in using an app such as this one with a time limit, users must be very strategic in what message they wish to send to their consumers and to insure it is perceived the way it was intended.  While Snapchat may seem like a fun app  for personal use, however, this app should be strategically thought about how it can be used to connect with a younger demographic to get a message across, such as buy our product! Check out this article for some additional information on the growing popularity of Snapchat.  For access to the app check out the  Snapchat website.