July 1st, 2008
By: Shama Hyder
Fellow blogger and reader, Mark Salinas, asked this question:
“I have yet to explore the world of Facebook or Myspace for that matter. I guess with so many different avenues or options if you will…..what are the advantages of Facebook vs. any other? Does it have a stronger presence with Google, is an easier interface to navigate through, is the infrastructure reliable (unlike Twitter)?”
Mark-Thank you for the fantastic questions. These questions keep coming up in my presentations and speaking engagements as well. They have led to this article!
LinkedIn- ***
Pros: A professional crowd, great place to get and give recommendations, allows for an interactive online resume.
Cons: Too static-can’t make out a person’s personality, can’t reach out with ease, level of interaction between members is fairly low.
How to Use it: LinkedIn gets 3 stars. Not a great marketing or relationship building tool. Use it to build a “professional resume” online and get feedback from colleagues, clients, and bosses. Spend no more than 30 minutes a month.
MySpace- **
Pros: Well established, huge number of users, flexible.
Cons: Lot of musicians, kids, and hippies (okay, so that’s an exaggeration and not necessarily a con-but it’s not a perfect B2B market.) Lax security. My inkling is that most users are looking for relationships-and not to network for business reasons.
How to Use it: 2 stars here. Use it ONLY if 1) you already have a profile, etc. 2) Your target market uses MySpace. Don’t use it if you are in the B2B market or need to target professionals. If you do use it, make sure your profile is very professional and shows no signs that you are looking for more (read: romance)…unless, ofcourse, you are.
Twitter- **
Pros: Easy to setup and use, lots of marketers and PR folks use it
Cons: Experiences lots of down time, can be addictive
How to Use it: 2 stars here. Setup a profile, and follow people you care to listen to and share with. Write a new blog post? Hosting an event? Share it on Twitter. Just don’t spend more than 15 minutes a day on it.
Facebook- ****
Pros: Flexible, clean interface, lots of applications, easy to interact, build community and market
Cons: Spammers are now catching on to the coolness of Facebook, applications that you wish were never created (i.e., buy your friends, virtual zombie bites…this list is long).
How to Use it: Definite 4 stars! Setup a profile that conveys your brand. Add friends. Network. Find JV partners. Build community. Read: Top 10 Ways to Use Facebook to Market your Business for Free.
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June 26th, 2008
By: Shama Hyder
Yesterday, I had the chance to speak to a most fascinating individual. But, before I go into the details of our conversation, it’s important to give some background.
A few weeks ago I found out that I would be speaking at Blog World (amazing blogging conference) in Las Vegas. The topic? “Facebook Fortunes: How to Market your Brand, Blog, and Business on Facebook.” Last year, Blog World was amazing, and it blew my socks off. This year, I am thrilled to actually be a bigger part of it. If you are even vaguely thinking about going-stop thinking, and just go. Why?
- The coolest bloggers in the world are there. You can make some great friends.
- The presentations are going to kick-butt.
- Your business/blog/brand WILL benefit just by being there. (I know because that’s exactly what happened for me last year.)
- It’s in LAS VEGAS!
Okay, now, back to the prequel to this intriguing conversation. I want to make sure that the presentation on Facebook is the BEST ever! So, I contacted Mari Smith (another Facebook expert) for any case studies that she may want to add. She, in turn, recommended I speak to Kevin Nation…and there the fun began!
Kevin is not a social media expert. Far from it. He is a savvy business owner who teaches people how to sell BIG ticket items-often coaching, consulting, etc. So, how did Kevin make thousands of dollars using Facebook to market his business? He decided to put into action some basic principles:
-Engagment-He created a group on Facebook to share his expertise, and invited people to actively engage.
-Great content- He gave gives away lots of great free information on his Facebook group.
-Community- He encourages everyone in the group to help each other and serve as resources.
He does NOT sell anything on Facebook. You can bet I will keep you updated on what he will be up to. We may even do something together…only time will tell. = )
For now, click here to join his Big Ticket Mastermind group on Facebook.
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June 23rd, 2008
By: Shama Hyder
A few months ago, I conducted a full blown quantitative study of Twitter. (This was for a Master’s thesis from the University of Texas at Austin).
- Main goal was to study why people use Twitter, and to check if they perceive time differently (goes by faster, dragging on, etc.) than people who use other social media sites.
- Over 1000 surveys were collected. Approximately 650 were Twitter users.
- One question asked…”I twitter because…” Answer choices were divided into six categories of communication motives (i.e., pleasure, affection, inclusion, escape, relaxation, and control).
Results?
Results revealed that Twitter users were more likely to communicate in order to Escape. This means they chose items in line with: I talk to put off something I should be doing; I talk to get away from what I am doing; I talk because I have nothing better to do; I talk to get away from pressures and responsibilities. My earlier research on Twitter had led to the assumption that it was a “water cooler” of sorts for bloggers (as a group and occupation type) to convene, ask questions, get feedback, and spend time with colleagues. These findings make it clear that Twitter users do not view the social media site as an online water cooler. In fact, the Escape factor as a reason for communication puts Twitter more in line with “happy hour.”
There was no difference in the perception of time.
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