Your business better be READY.

In conjunction with our previous posts, this is a 2 minute video by the best in the business..
Erik Qualman. Is your business ready?



Taha Sayed
The Fine Social Media Group

Why you should HIRE a Social Media Manager

You’re here because you’ve accepted the fact that Social Media will provide value to your business. Now you’re deciding whether to do it yourself or to hire a professional. Hiring is always a cost. Costs are more often than not avoided. If there are two things every business owner universally strive for more of are…

Time, and yes you’ve guessed it, MONEY.

As a Small to medium business, weighing the importance of every business expense is what separates the very successful from the not so successful. “Plans are nothing; planning is everything”, the famous quote by Eisenhower I adhere by. So when the question of whether to bring in another helping hand arises, it’s always effective planning and weighing of priorities is what potentially strikes the right balance.

Social Media is always changing and every week it seems as though that there is a brand new topic, tool, or website that needs to be immersed into your brand and business. Businesses have accepted that it's here and here to stay but it's time to talk about who is going to manage it for your business. Initial reaction is usually that they’ll you'll do it yourself. But before you start downloading Twitter and Facebook how-to guides, consider two things. Do you yourself (a) have the right personality to be a savvy social media manager and (b) have the time to take on the task?

With the recurring theme from my previous posts being time, below are listed more reasons as to why you should consider hiring a Social Media Manager (SMM);

1. Hiring an “Ear to the ground” – this ensures that your business is best represented through the “correct” mediums reaching targeted markets. It’s great that as a business owner you have the passion to induce Social Media into your strategy however are you targeting the correct market with the correct tool/medium?

2. No Guess Work – with an experienced SMM, guessing what your online audience find engaging can deter existing fans on the medium engaged currently on. I have seen it; sharing inappropriate material can clash with your current Mission statement as a business with a Brand painted online different to what is intended professionally , in turn damaging an existing reputation or creating a false one.

3. SMM’s study the industry all day long – we at The Fine Social Media Group, work consistently with Small to medium businesses uncovering trends and material that keeping up with the inundation of information is simply, part of our job.We’ve learnt through trial and error and we understand what you as a business need to do to continue to engage your customers.

4. Finding the correct balance – business owners tend to forget the professionalism of their business and focus solely on creating a Social atmosphere online that as a business is no longer taken seriously when services are required. Finding the correct balance of Engaging material and creating a professional online presence through Social Media requires experience.

5. Tracking Social Media success – not all business owners/managers are able to decipher how their current Social Media strategy is performing, or if introducing Social Media will have a constructive effect.

According to Rand Fishkin over at SEOMoz, Product, marketing, engineering and customer service departments can all benefit from an increased knowledge and understanding of social media, and very little of it is common sense. From knowing the difference between an original tweet, a retweet, virality of a post to crafting lifecycle attribution by melding tools like Bit.ly PRO and Facebook insights, social media expertise is more than just useful, but often critical to improving overall performance. I could not agree more.

For Small to medium business owners, time spent focusing on developing rapport with your customers and management is time better spent. Maintaining an online presence takes time, experience and passion. With the world of Social Media and marketing ever changing, leave it to the experienced professionals to do it for you.

Social Media Managers are hilarious too! If you’re in the process of hiring one, and their sense of humor isn’t very good, I’d suggest you keep looking…


Taha Sayed
TheFineSocialMediaGroup

10 Astonishing Mobile Use Statistics Businesses Need to Know

The exponential growth and innovation on the mobile phone front has been nothing short of stellar.

The higher-end smart phones now have the power and storage capabilities of desktop computers of just 4-5 years ago. It’s no surprise that 2004 saw 674 million phones being bought (Rajesh Jain, Business).

The mobile phone is the uber device – the one device that seems to get it all done and is now more indispensable than ever with some business owners running their entire business operations through their smart phones. Interestingly enough, it is was quite astounding to here Daniel Priestley at the Key Person of Influence seminar held in Sydney recently refer to the Mobile phone as a “factory in your pocket”. I could not agree more.

With Mobile Marketing currently central to our Business model at The Fine Social Media Group, it is imperative for business owners to understand how ready they are for when potential and current consumers look you up on their mobiles. The below statistics highlight the importance of inducing Mobile marketing as part of your strategy for reaching customers.

1.    64% of mobile phone time is spent on apps (Nielsen, 2012)

2.    75% of customers prefer a mobile friendly site (Google, 2012)

3.    Total amount of people who access Facebook with their phones are in excess of 250 million

4.    Mobile search queries almost double during holiday season (Google, 2011)

5.    On average it takes 90 mins to respond to an email, but 90 secs to respond to a text message; are you incorporating Text message marketing? (CTIA)

6.     75% of emails are opened, 60% of Facebook posts and 90% are all conducted from a mobile device (Bill Boorman, ATC 2012)

7.    20% of telecom, 30% of restaurant and 25% of movie searches are Mobile (Google, 2012)

8.    81% of users prefer sites available via mobiles vs apps for price research, 79% for product reviews, 63% for purchasing (Adobe Mobile experience survey & eMarketer 2011)

9.    Revealing a location in an ad or search result can increase click-through rates up to 200% (ThinkNear 2012 via MediaPost)

10.  Social Media totaled $2.83 billion in revenues and grew at 42.1% with Mobile use (PQ Media January 2012 via Marketing Profs)

Why You as a Business Should Care

It’s difficult to ignore the above statistics. For example if you’re a local restaurant and small business, it should be quite striking to you that Mobile use dictates a large percentage of how your customers reach your business and whether they decide to use your services.

To start conservatively, consider a mobile landing page or a mobile text-back campaign. Or, if you want to be more aggressive, you could develop a website or an app. Compare the experience of visiting a non-mobile friendly website vs. a website ready for mobile, easy to navigate and quick links for prices, products and location.

It's a no-brainer.

I know I would rather navigate a Mobile-friendly website than zooming in and out just to find out the price of a well done Eye-Fillet!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taha Sayed
TheFineSocialMediaGroup

10 Statistics Small Business Owners NEED to Know

Working together and assisting passionate Small business owners with their businesses and devising strategies to increase their return on investment through Social Media is very fulfilling and central to our business model.

There are still a major chunk of Small business owners who haven’t bought into the Social Media craze, and unfortunately for these businesses, will be eventually playing catch-up with those who have joined and engaging with customers. According to Yellow Pages in partnership with the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association, a study was conducted which indicated that only 27% of Small businesses currently have a Social Presence.  This is quite outstanding considering how many engaged users currently use Social Media (http://thefinesocialmediagroup.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/10-more-startling-social-media.html).

Twitter fans are more likely to buy from a brand they follow (Crowdspring).

 

Here are 10 Social Media Statistics Small Business owners need to know!

1.       Social Media accounts for 23% of customer engagement today – but is expected to increase to 57% - the second most used channel, behind only face to face interaction – within five years – Marketing (Pilgrim).

2.       60% of people who use three or more digital means of research for product purchases learned about a specific brand or retailer from a social networking site. 48% of these customers responded to retailer’s offer posted on Facebook or twitter (MediaPost).

3.       Half of all local searches are performed on mobile devices

4.       66% of new customers use search and online research to find local businesses.

5.       36% of social media users post brand-related content

6.       2 out of 3 social media users believe Twitter influences purchases

7.       40% of companies admit to having no training or governance of social media

8.       One in three small businesses are now using social media

9.       A whopping 77 percent of B2C companies and 43 percent of B2B companies acquired customers from Facebook. (Business2Community)

10.   Nearly 23% of online time is spent on social networks.

 

Don’t forget the most important reasons small businesses should leverage social media are:

- Engage with customers
- Creating a visible online presence
- Controlling image

The common reason I have discovered through my visits to Small businesses is, time. They simply don’t have the time to manage and continue to engage customers, where hiring a Social Media manager could be an option.  

Although it appears easy to do for yourself, one has to be careful since bad management and handling of these social media networks could also work out negative for your company’s image. This is why experts advise small businesses through social media marketing, simply because they know how to make use of social media and are on top of the possibilities and trends.

So, your first priority should be building that relationship with people, not pitching your service or product.

Lead with stories and give them a reason to invest their time in both your business and your online presence!

Have you had any success with it so far? How long have you implemented Social Media? Need assistance? Let us know in the comments section.

Taha Sayed

TheFineSocialMediaGroup
@FineSocialMedia

 

10 MORE STARTLING SOCIAL MEDIA STATISTICS

It still ceases to amaze both my clients and I, on the leaps and bounds Social Media has come in the last 5 years.

 

With Pinterest expanding its features for businesses, Instagram launching a Web version and Facebook continually expanding its advertising options, now is as good a time as ever to bolster your social media presence for the future, according to Brian Honignam.

To help lend a perspective on those intrigued by the world of Social Media, businesses who are still unsure whether Social Media is an avenue to take, and to help understand the size and growth rates through various different platforms, here are as promised, 10 MORE STARTLING SOCIAL MEDIA STATISTICS.

1. 98% of 18-24 years olds, currently engage in Social Media (Statistic Brain)
2. 11% of the world currently have a Facebook account. (Statistic Brain)
3. There are now over 2.8 billion social media profiles, representing around half of all internet users worldwide (Social Skinny)
4. Philippines has the highest social media penetration, with more than 90% of its Internet users visiting a social networking site every month, followed by Australia at 89% and Indonesia at 88% (Social Skinny)
5. 9% of web hits worldwide are from mobile phones (Heidi Cohen)
6. Almost 40% of social media users access social media content via their phone on an occasional basis (MediaPost)
7. 1 billion users on Facebook yes, however 3.1 billion use email (HubSpot)
8. Companies with blogs get 97% more inbound links than others (Jeff Bullas)
9. Videos are 53 times more likely to appear on the first page of search results (Jeff Bullas)
10. As of 2012, 210,000 years of music have been played on Facebook (Gizmodo)

The numbers demonstrate two things profoundly. People are online and engaging with others through Social Media. People have been online for a long time, however the ease and different uses of Social Media have given opportunities for employers to join the community and engage.

Quitting Facebook is the new, adult version of running away from home. We all know you’re doing it for attention and we all know you’ll be back!!


Taha Sayed
TheFineSocialMediaGroup
@FineSocialMedia

5 Ways to get more Facebook Likes on your Page

Face it, you need more likes.

Why? More likes translates to a wider audience. A wider audience means a greater chance of business. Every time you update your page with your latest post or blog, it appears instantly in a variable percentage of those who have liked your page. With one update, you have the ability and opportunity to create impressions with your content, in REAL TIME!

We all know this right?

WELL KNOWN BRANDS have MASSIVE LIKES.

The question is HOW? Setting up a Facebook page doesn't suffice.

Here are 5 Ways to gain more likes on your Organisations page;

1. Engage your audience
- This is the key to the gateway of success on Facebook. In order to attract attention to your page, be engaging on your own personal profile as well (Bullas). According to Social Media expert Dan Zarella, sharing visual content does exceptionally well. Ask questions and connect with your audience.


2. Share other peoples content
- Share yours and you'll share mine. Well in a nutshell. According to Jeff Bullas, Facebook goes hand in hand with the engagement you create. Tagging those that you've shared their content within the post alerts the person/organisation through a notification.

3. Frequent Updates
You have a great meal, your likely to go back to the same restaurant and dine again right?
Excellent content will engage and entice both likes and shares.

According to Bullas, "The sharing and liking they do will attract more new people to your facebook page." Typically, great content will be shared; people want to show other people great stuff they've seen. Frequently updating content, not necessarily always related to the business, will entice likes and shares broadening your audience.


4. Giveaway FREE/Incentives for every Like or Share
- Scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Have a really great incentive as the prize upon reaching a certain milestone or target. eg, if 1000 Likes are reached this week, a FREE eBook will be sent via eMail to all likers (or whatever is feasible).

5. Advertise on Facebook
All BIG Brand use this. Ever see a "Sponsored" ad on your news feed? Yeah, they've paid for it. Try it. You can edit your target audience and reach potential customers.

Ready to go BIG? What has or hasn't been working for you?

Let us know in the comments section or reach us on Facebook or Twitter.

TheFineSocialMediaGroup
@FineSocialMedia

Why use Social Media for Business? The Simple breakdown. 10 Benefits.

Let's face it, whether you like it or not, Social Media is here to stay.

Most of us who use Social Media at the moment, fall into the category of "Personal Use". These are those who use Facebook, Twitter, Google+ etc to keep in contact with friends, family, work colleagues and other acquaintances they have.

The other category, "Business Use", is one that both Large, and quite recently (that's where we come in :), small businesses, are beginning to use Social Media to further their reach and interact with customers. If implemented correctly, marketing with social media can bring remarkable success to businesses. Using Social Media can not only increase leverage and exposure locally, but if done correctly, globally.

10 Benefits of Social Media

1. Increased exposure & awareness of Business
2. A greater perceivable brand of business
3. Ability to develop and market to a target audience (Targeted Marketing)
4. Retaining of current customers with regular interaction
5. Increase in NEW business
6. Accessible feedback
7. Understand current perception of "Brand" and service
8. Ability to develop a target Strategy to reach NEW customers
9. Able to plan ahead, with possible issues noticed
10. Increase of Traffic to website

An interesting mention on Jeff Bullas's blog, with Paul Gillin, the author of "The New Influencers";

"Conventional marketing wisdom long held that a dissatisfied customer tells ten people. But ...in the new age of social media, he or she has the tools to tell ten million"

The revolution of Social Media has its fair share of positives, however having the ability to ignore the fear of the unknown, is truly what can set the successful use of Social Media apart from the unsuccessful.

Adapt. Now
TheFineSocialMediaGroup
@FineSocialMedia