While I would love to say that I created more great content, I have instead decided to share with you the great content of others. Here are a few articles that I am finding to be particularly helpful, and I hope you will too.

The Art of the Social Media Press Release

If you have only a moment to tweet out an announcement, you only have your smartphone to take a quick photo or video related to your announcement, or you simply want to promote your official press release, then you have to rely on the power of social media. Unlike the average press release where you get 300 – 800 words to express your announcement, with social media, you might only have 90 characters, one image, or just seven seconds. Read More Here.

5 Inexcusable Social Media Sins

Social media is a great way to connect with people, but it can also turn some people off. Here are five inexcusable social media sins to avoid. Read More Here.

Listen Up Old School Advertisers: Social Media & Digital Advertising Are Here To Stay

Despite the efforts of old school advertisers doing things the old way, social media and digital advertising are here to stay.  The basic rules of advertising have not changed, but the way we present content and advertising have changed due to the invention of social media and digital advertising. Read More Here.

5 Ways to Grow Marketing in the Era of the Empowered Consumer

Brinker gives great advice to CMOs for using digital marketing to deliver an exceptional customer experience in this era of the empowered consumer, one touch point at a time. Read More Here.

8 Tips for Success on Facebook’s New Video Advertising Platform

Facebook has been changing the game for advertisers since its inception a decade ago. And with its new video advertising platform, there are now even more ways to reach your target audience. But how should you use the tool to generate the most successful results? Read More Here.

Instagram Photos With Faces Get 38% More Likes

Instagram photos that include faces are far more likely to get likes from followers than those without, a new study suggests. According to a report conducted at Georgia Tech, people are more drawn to photos that feature the face. In fact, of 1.1 million randomly-selected Instagram photos analyzed with face detection software, those with faces were 38% more likely to get Likes and 32% more likely to get comments. Read More Here.

This is an experiment in social media. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate how we, at SP Digital, can take your business to the next level in the social media arena.

Kitchen Crashin’ with Tara is a new series where I get to visit local restaurants and people’s homes and learn how to cook something cool. We film it and publish it the day the column goes on the Food page in the Salisbury Post.

On February 17, 2014, I began a Facebook page for an article and video that was not yet published in the Salisbury Post and on the SalisburyPost.com. The article and corresponding video was published on February 18, 2014.

I began constructing my new Facebook page with a headshot that I thought represented me well (taken by Sean Meyers). I then used a cover photo that was designed by one of our super cool graphics people (Andy Mooney).

From there, I filled out the required information about the page’s content.

I sent it to a few friends, and ta-da! Facebook page complete.

The article and video came out on Tuesday, February 18, 2014, and I used this new Facebook page and my personal Facebook page to really promote the article with posts. I also included information about the series on my work email signature.

Now, I did really push and ask my Facebook friends to like the page. About 150 of them did.

Later that week, I created a Twitter account and a Pinterest account for Kitchen Crashin’ with Tara. I also created a small website.

On February 22, 2014, I did spend $55 of my own money to promote the Facebook page over two days. But, it actually resulted in less “likes” than I anticipated (Only 27). What was most effective was more of a grassroots, organic strategy. I asked my friends to “like” my page, and subsequently, a lot of their friends saw that they “liked” Kitchen Crashin’ with Tara, and then they “liked” it.

The first column and episode of Kitchen Crashin’ with Tara was on February 18, 2014. The second was published on March 4, 2014.

The first week, my Facebook “likes” grew from 0 to 535 and subsequently to 609 by March 4, 2014.

This weekend, I went through and created widgets to my Facebook page: Pinterest, Twitter, my Website, the Salisbury Post, my blog, and the Taste of Home.

This weekend, I also had some tricks up my sleeve. People, in general, have interesting patterns when they are on Facebook . This is based on market research, but mostly based on what I see on accounts I have managed. Between 7am to 8am and 7pm to 9pm, this is when “socializing” happens most on Facebook.

Between 8am and 5pm, a lot of people are at work and are more open to B2B communication, articles, newsworthy information, weather, traffic, and services / products you provide. This is the type of posting that should occur during regular office hours.

So, if you are trying to engage your fans, post fun and engaging material before work and before bedtime. I chose to post pictures and videos of my daughter making cupcakes. I know my demographic. According to my Facebook insights, my demographic is women.They are within my age range. And I am making the assumption that there are probably moms and working moms like me. So, I post pictures of easy recipes, tips in the kitchen, my children, and the articles from the Salisbury Post.

You can find this information on your Facebook business page under “See Insights.”

The post on March 2, 2014 at 6:08 pm was the highest engagement post thus far.

The seven things I have found that work best for engagement (of course, depending on your demographic) are: 1) kids, 2) animals, 3) comics, 4) religious quotes embedded on photos, 5) patriotic images and quotes, 6) selfies with kids and animals, 7) and all of these combined! And don’t forget video. Video indexes at a rapid pace.

Why am I sharing all of this with you? To make your social media engagement better. And to show you how I can help your social media presence.

Is it time consuming? Yes. There really is no doubt about that.

Is it worth it? Yes. Social media is the new form of marketing. How best can I demonstrate what I do and how I do it then to market myself and walk you through the process?

I will update this blog over the next few weeks to track progress. I will ask my graphics guru to create a better format website for me. I will continue posting and curating content.

Let’s see how it goes! Don’t forget to “like” my page!

Contact me for more information regarding social media fulfillment at tvangeons@salisburypost.com.