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Taking a moment out of our everyday lives to remember our heroes. Happy Memorial Day Weekend All!

5 Reasons to Hire a Social Media Agency

As large as Social Media has become in this day and age, it is still developing. The rules are always changing and sometimes it can be hard to keep up. The right knowledge and training can help navigate a company successfully through these murky waters. Here are 5 reasons your company should hire a social media agency to achieve your goals:

1. It Will Save You Time: Creating a successful social media campaign is a full time job. It takes hours of research to gather content, create the right message and execute it on all the right networks. Social Media Agencies do this kind of job each and everyday. They eat, sleep and breathe the latest updates and trends. Why not let the experts handle it?

2. It Will Save You Money: By hiring a social media agency, companies can skip the step of having to staff this sort of position. As mentioned above, social media is a full time job which means full time pay and benefits. With an agency, you'll reap the same rewards and save in the process.

3. Less Turnover Potential: You could staff a social media position within your company. However, the newest employee will need to get up to speed with company history, messaging and branding techniques. And after that, there is no guarantee that employee is there for the long term. With an agency, all information for you as a client is collected and can be accessed in a moments notice. Campaign statistics, marketing calendars etc. are all kept up to date and can easily be understood by all. With an inside staffing position your new hire will be playing roulette trying figure out where the other left off.

4. They Can Teach You What You Don't Know: Social Media experts have the ability to train your staff to understand the importance of a social media strategy. They can lend you and your employees advice on the latest trends, get them to delve into the social media world and assist in social media efforts by offering information you may not already know.

5.The Tools Are Already There: Social Media Agencies already have the latest tools and technologies needed to run a social media campaign. This saves you a step in having to purchase all of it yourself. Not only that, but they are already trained and familiar with the software and can put it to immediate use.

Featured Blog Post of the Week

When we come across some great advice or statistics we believe it is important to share it with our audience.  360i Blog had a great topic this week, we wanted to highlight.

Check out what they had to say about what they've learned about social media:

8 Things We’ve Learned from Engaging with 200MM People in Social

Last week, the aggregate size of the online communities we manage on behalf of brands like Coca-Cola, Oreo, NBC and more reached 200 million people. This milestone reflects the reach of our content & community management team across several social media platforms – from Facebook and Twitter to Tumblr and Pinterest.

Since formally launching our community management team more than four years ago, we’ve used curiosity and a test-and-learn approach to help our clients build and nurture their online communities through shifts in the social landscape, including the proliferation of new platforms and the increased importance of content for brands.

We asked some of our community and content managers to share their most important findings from engaging with 200 million people in social media every day. Here are their top takeaways:

1. Respect the inherent value exchange that’s required of all online communities. “Fans who ‘Like’ or follow brands aren’t looking for a sales pitch – they’re looking for entertainment or utility,” says Community Supervisor Jeremy Elias. “Focus on building relationships rather than blasting a message,” further suggests Senior Community Manager Tatiana Urriaga.
2. Push the limits of your content. “A great community manager never gets comfortable with their content,” says Mikey Cramer, Associate Director of Social Content Development & Strategy. “Strong content is the result of being able to bring a brand to life in a way that aligns with what fans want and with what performs well on a given platform. As what is culturally relevant is always changing, and as platforms are always evolving, so to should your content strategy.”
3. Take strategic risks. “Don’t be afraid to try new things in your online communities, as repercussions of not taking risks could be substantial,” says Elias. “Just because you haven’t done something before doesn’t mean it won’t resonate.” Vet new tactics or strategies by ensuring that they align with the brand’s personality, the character of its audience and best practices of the platform – and always plan for the expected. “You must proactively plan to be reactive,” says Senior Community Manager Karri Wells Wane.
4. Get in the mindset of your audience. “People love sharing content that illustrates or articulates their current state of mind,” reflects Elias. “If your brand can illustrate that in a fun and engaging way, you’re golden.” “Think like a troll; but don’t act like one,” echoed Senior Community Manager Steven Avalos. “Knowing your community means understanding exactly what makes them tick and what will set them off. Play into these learnings to create better, more reactionary content that will get fans talking and showing off their passion for your brand.”
5. Respect the savvy of social audiences. Regardless of the platform or type of content, be sure that you are delivering premium experiences to your fans. This could mean establishing a consistent aesthetic for social images (e.g. 360i client Hanes) or using high-res video to create branded GIFs. “If you’ve cut corners with your content, the community will let you know,” says Elias.
6. Utilize a social tone of voice that’s unique to your brand. A social tone of voice acts as a guide and a filter for what your brand says in online communities. It should be reflective of your brand’s values and beliefs, but also reflective of your audience and their culture. “Find your own unique voice so it doesn’t sound like everybody else’s in the feed,” recommends Elias. “The best brand voice sounds and feels like a person, not like a corporation or mission statement.”
7. Remember that individuals within a community are important, too. “Talking to one person in your community can sometimes inspire millions more to get involved in the conversation,” says Elias. Use community insights to develop your strategy, but don’t assume all fans are the same. In social, a thoughtful or particularly clever response to a single person within a community has the potential to reach a much larger audience.
8. Don’t get too comfortable with best practices. “The social landscape is always changing, so make sure you test and re-test different strategies on an ongoing basis,” says Chloe Mathieu- Phillips, Associate Director of Digital Communities. “Platforms evolve, and so does user behavior. People might engage more or less with certain types of content over time.” Adds Wells Wane: “You must be comfortable being uncomfortable or you will never survive.”

The biggest takeaway from our team: evolve your approach with changes in the social landscape and be prepared to shift course as new opportunities arise. A nimble, curious mindset will allow you to reach consumers in new ways and take advantage of key moments as they unfold.

How to Make Social Media Fun

One of the reasons we use social media is because it's fun. I know, you're probably asking, if we're using social media for business, how can it be fun? Well, we're going to show you a few ways you can make social media fun!

1. Contests - Everyone loves prizes. Have your customers take creative pictures with your product and post on social media sites

2. Polls- Poll your customers on the next product idea or their favorite so far. Get creative

3. Recognition - Recognize a valued customer. Choose a customer of the month and they can receive a discount for their next purchase. This may incline others to shop more often so they can be next!

4. Show Your Best Side: Post being the scenes photos of your employees hard at work, customers (with permission) who visit that day and show your followers how down to earth you are. Remember, it's all about being relatable.

5. Be Witty: Do you blog? If not, maybe you should start! You can blog about anything industry and product related. If people enjoy your posts, even laugh a little, they are more than likely going to share with a friend.

Social media is a great way to create awareness for your business, but it doesn't always have to be business. Spruce it up a little and have some fun. Your customers will thank you!

Foursquare Benefits for Business

A week ago today was officially Foursquare day. Feel free to head over there and check out all the fun ways they celebrated!

In honor of its one week anniversary, we thought we'd go a little bit in depth on this social media tool that has generated a lot of hype. Why use Foursquare if your a business? What benefits does it hold for you? Here are 4 great answers to those questions.

Consumers Love the Competition: Not only can those on Foursquare share new places and find new hangouts through checking in, but they can also earn points while doing it. They earn badges for being the first to check in somewhere or checking in somewhere the most often. Who doesn't like to gloat about being the mayor of somewhere right?

New Customers at no Cost: All you have to do is add your business to Foursquare and you've opened the door for a whole new group of consumers. While searching for a product or service, your business will then come up in their search and they are now aware of your offerings. Once they are aware you are out their that can then turn into them doing business with you.

Reward Your Customers: Those who check in often and help in supporting your business should be rewarded in some way to show appreciation. Offer coupons, special promotions or give them a shout out. Loyal customers deserve it and they will pay it forward!

Real Time Data: While users of Foursquare are checked in to a certain location they gain access to polls, questionnaires  quizzes, etc. This is a great tool for businesses to gain feedback from their customers.

Social media is all about creating awareness and building a loyal following all while having fun doing it! Foursquare is a great way to create all of that.

What Facebook Changes Mean for Your Brand

Are you familiar with the latest changes to Facebook? If not, Evoke came across a great blog post from The Targeted Group explaining the in depth details and impact these changes will have. Take a look!


A Close Inspection of Facebook’s Updates and What They Mean for Your Brand
Thursday, 18 April 2013 11:42  
Virginia Arnold


Facebook has been busy making changes to its functionalities in the last few months- eight since January to be exact- but don’t be overwhelmed by these new updates. Instead, optimize your brand’s Facebook page by using the following tips and best practices: 


Partner Categories
Through Partner Categories brands will be able to focus their advertising dollars on Facebook users with purchasing histories that suggest they would be interested in specific products or services. 

Brands can leverage this new Facebook feature by advertising products or services that build on purchases users have already made. For instance, a computer company may choose to advertise computer-maintenance services instead of computer hardware since they have access to a group of users that are guaranteed to already own computers.

Facebook Home 
While the success of Facebook Home is yet to be determined, it does bring into focus an important social media trend: mobile marketing. Brands should remember to make their Facebook content mobile friendly. Keep it short, to the point, and include media-rich elements, such as infographics, to help users digest the information.

Ads in News Feed
This new advertising feature allows businesses to target specific audience members with posts that appear in their News Feed. Since these posts will be shared with Facebook users that have expressed interest in the types of products or services being advertised, the ads should be optimized for engagement through the use of language and images that relate specifically to the target audience. 

Reply Button
Brands can now reply to specific comments on their Facebook posts. This new function makes it easier for brands to manage comments and to host events that foster engagement, such as open forums or questions-and-answer sessions, directly on their Facebook page.

Cover Photo Freedom
Businesses on Facebook now have more freedom to add text that encourages interaction with the brand page to their cover photo. Some previous restrictions that are no longer in place include: Adding contact information, suggesting users “like” the page, and including call-to-action text such as “tell your friends”. 


These well-designed brand cover photos are great examples for companies hoping to refresh their Facebook presence: 












Brand Cover Photos from giniarnold




Hashtags
In mid-March The Wall Street Journal announced that Facebook is working to adapt hashtags into its standard functionalities. Facebook hashtags will help businesses be found more easily by allowing users a way to search for posts referencing topics they find interesting. To prepare for this new function, brands on Facebook should compile a list of strategic hashtags that can be used when the feature is launched. Look to current Twitter efforts for inspiration. 

The New News Feed
The updated News Feed layout, not yet available to all users, places a specific emphasis on brand cover photos and profile images. It is now more important than ever that brands are cognizant of their photo choices. This new, prominent position in users’ Timelines is a great opportunity for increasing network size, so use these images to attract and engage.

Facebook Graph Search
Some Facebook users are still waiting to receive access to Facebook Graph Search, but that doesn’t mean businesses should wait to optimize their page. Brands should pay special attention to the “About” section of their profile, making sure it includes a description with keywords that describe the company.

Has your brand found success with Facebook’s latest updates? Let us know your tips for Facebook optimization in the comments section. 

Work to Inspire

I don't know about you, but we had a blast following all of the great upsets, memorable plays and remarkable comebacks during March Madness. One of the most talked about moments around here, which I'm sure is true for all of you, was that of Kevin Ware. Our hands covering our face, shivers sneaking up our spines and our hearts heavy for him, his family and his teammates as he recovers from an unforgettable injury. 

That moment was an inspiration for today's blog. As business owners we tend to always be going after that next big thing. Today, we wanted to take a moment to remind you of how to handle those tough times we all come across. 

1. You Can't Do It Alone: We as entrepreneurs and business leaders tend to always hold the reins pretty tight. However; success, although not impossible, cannot be done without a team behind you. Delegate responsibilities to your employees, let go of the things others can handle.  It's a lot easier to manage your business when you can give others part of your focus.
2. Always Stand Up One More Time: Starting a business, profiting from it and allowing it to keep growing the way you want it to takes work. Don't get discouraged if you try something and it doesn't work. Just chalk it up as a lesson learned and give something else another shot. Running a successful business, on top of knowledge and experience, is a lot of trial and error. If you come across a hurdle or trip and fall, just dust yourself off and keep going.
3. Take a Moment to Reflect: We as human beings in general tend to focus a lot of energy on what could go wrong, on what has gone wrong, but what about all the great things that have been achieved. In the midst of a busy like, always take a moment to look at how far you've come and what you've created. You will learn to be more successful when you learn to understand the great things in life instead of the not so great.

We would love to hear your thoughts and reflections that inspire you as business owners. Please comment below and tell us your thoughts!