500 million users on Facebook

Facebook’s population is now larger than that of the U.S., Mexico and France combined.

The world’s largest social networking site announced Wednesday that it has hit a widely anticipated milestone, signing up its 500 millionth user.

In a blog post, Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said he “could have never imagined all of the ways people would use Facebook when we were getting started 6 years ago.” In a video message, Zuckerberg thanked Facebook users and told them “you really have created a worldwide movement.”

To show off its international reach, Facebook launched a new application Wednesday called Facebook Stories. The app lets users recount their own stories and read others’ posts, filtered by theme and geographic location. Read full story

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Facebook More Popular Than Google: So?

Not sure of HitWises methodology – why aren’t they comparing all Google’s web functions, including Maps and Mail? – but good on Facebook! For a site that didn’t exist in 2003, that is quite some achievement.

What does this mean for the future of search marketing?

Not much.

Given the lock-in for return visits, it’s unsurprising that Facebook might receive more visits than a search engine. However, the most important aspect of different channels, as far as a web marketer is concerned, is: does the traffic convert to cash at some point?
Measure Success

Social Media Marketing, like SEO, is a tatic. However, if the tactic don’t translate into more business, then it’s a waste of time. Whatever channel you use, it is important to establish KPIs – key performance indicators – that measure the effectiveness of your tactics, and directly relate to the success of you business.

For example, one of the KPIs often mentioned in SMM is volume metrics, such as number of followers, subscribers etc. If we were to relate this metric back to our business objectives, we’d ask how does having a higher number of followers, or people claiming to be followers, result in more business? How many of those followers are really engaging with you? Or are they, literally, just making up the numbers?

I’ve seen social media companies fudge this aspect. Some play around with the term ROI, changing the “I” from “investment” to “influence”, or to “interest”, and use the number of followers as evidence of the level of interest in a clients services or brand.

The bottom line is the golden KPI. It can become blurred in bigger organizations, but for the little guy, it is crucial.
Volume Metrics Can Be Deceiving

Search marketers know that the volume game can be an illusion when it comes to making money.

“Jokes” may be a very popular keyword term, but it’s not making people any money because there is no commercial intent. “Second mortgages” is not a particularly popular term in terms of volume, but is lucrative as it has clear commercial intent. A high position for second mortgages in search rankings will make you money.

Conversely, how difficult would it be to get buzz around the term “second mortgages” via social media? Sure, with some inventive twisting and disguising of the true message it could be done, but really, it’s pushing water uphill. The social environment isn’t really suited to such a message.
Choose The Right Environment

The two channels are like apples and oranges.

Different environments work for different messages. Social media is great for generating awareness, getting people talking, and when integrated with an SEO strategy can be a great way of getting links. Primarily, it’s a brand strategy. However, because it is a social environment, there is less tolerance of overt commercial activity that in direct channels.

Typical social media measurements include:

* Business outcomes – can you link the campaign to specific interactions, such as sales?
* Influencer Reach – how many influencers picked up on your message and spread it?
* Audience Reach – how many visitors saw your message? Link this metric to…
* Engagement – how many of those people who saw you message contacted you, or took a desired action?

Conversely, SEO isn’t much use for building brand awareness or encouraging people to talk about your message. The environment is similar to direct marketing. It is well suited to direct response and commercial activity, as the intent of the user can be determined, and if that intent is commercial, then people welcome commercial messages.
What Is Your Business

Hanging out and being cool on Facebook isn’t a business :)

Business on the web typically falls into one of nine groups. Which is yours?

* Brokerage – bringing buyers and sellers together
* Advertising – displaying/selling advertising
* Infomediary – run programs such as ad networks
* Merchant – sell stuff
* Manufacturer (Direct) – make and sell stuff
* Affiliate – sell other peoples stuff and take a commission
* Community – leverage your community to sell something else
* Subscription – sell content/training on an on-going basis
* Utility – pay as you go usage

Decide which business you are in. When deciding on marketing and advertising tactics, ask yourself which environment is best suited to developing your business, then develop KPIs that support that business. You key KPI should be the bottom line – either this activity returns more money than you spend, or it doesn’t.

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Ultimate Twitter Icons Collection For Web designers

Twitter is a micro-blogging social networking site which has grown so fast in recent years. Now twitter is playing an important part in promoting blogs. That’s why one can find almost all popular blogger out there in twitter. In twitter , users can send and read messages in the form of tweets.

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A Life Sciences Social Media Survey

I have been accumulating anecdotal information about companies,organizations and institutions that use social media tools like

Facebook,

Twitter,

YouTube etc.

I decided to attempt to conduct an informal survey  to determine whether or not the life sciences sector is adopting and embracing social media to meet its objectives (whatever they may be). Read full story

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Promotion through Social Media

Promoting your website through social media channels is a powerful strategy to achieve online visibility, traffic and sales.

Social Media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and LinkedIn have a combined membership of over 500 million members and growing.

Let IDGLabs  help you create a rewarding social network presence with an advertising campaign that delivers tangible results for your business.

	Starter	Business	Corporate
Press Releases and Article Marketing
Blog and Viral Marketing
Video Marketing*
Social Bookmarking
Email Marketing and Newsletters

- You get free traffic. If your content is good and other people start bookmarking it then it will gain momentum and you will get more free traffic.

- Some people will find your content interesting enough to place a link from their website to your website giving you a relevant one-way backlink.

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Search Engine Optimization & Marketing

Search Engine Optimization

	Starter	Business	Corporate
Basic SEO*
Analytics Implementation
Market Analysis & Keyword Research
Search Engine & Directory Submission
Link Building & Promotion
Ongoing Maintenance & Monthly Reports*

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How to Set up a Professional Twitter Profile

Twitter is an awesome Social Media tool for businesses. For those who are Beginners at twitter  you should know that it is a great way to connect with not only other business owners in your niche, but it is also a superb way to converse with your customers and potential customers.  Read full story

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Building a Brand through Social Media – IM Spring Break

If you wanted to know how to use Build a Brand Using Social Media then this session was the one to attend. Jeff Quipp, Brian Chappell and Li Evans were an amazing combo…. Together they were the perfect mixture of How-to, tips, suggestions, visuals….. absolutely all the facts needed to give you a good start in Branding.

Jeff Quipp discussed the How-to’s of branding by going into great detail on what Social Media can do for Branding. Brian Chapell added his thoughts and tips on monitoring your brand and Li Evans finished off this amazing session on Building a Brand with video and photo sharing. Read full story

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Social Media Marketing

Social Media Marketing has now emerged a silent but very effective tool in the world of Internet Marketing. It helps benefit your business in the following ways:

Increase website traffic (Primary and Secondary traffic)

The traffic that comes directly from social media sites is called primary traffic. Secondary traffic is the traffic that comes from websites that link and send you visitors after they have come across your content through social sites.

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