Top Three Thursday: Social Media News You Can Use

Top Three Thursday- Social Media News You Can Use

Top Three Thursday- Social Media News You Can UseWelcome to my Thursday feature. Here’s where I link three useful and interesting articles from excellent information sources that deal with social media and marketing subjects. As you know, changes are always happening in the world of social media. We have a lot to keep up with!

Video is all the rage in social media right now. It gets stronger engagement than other types of content. I’ve discovered, however, that my clients are not all that fond of seeing themselves on camera – and come to think of it, neither am I! Kim Garst of Boom Social to the rescue. Check out her article ‘How To Make Wicked Good Videos Even if You Are Camera Shy.’ She tells us that Facebook has already had 4 billion video views this year! Let her walk you through getting yourself on camera.

Let me quote you a statistic from Convince & Convert: at last count on Google, “there were 60 trillion indexed pages, which is double the 30 trillion from 2013.” How in the world will your content EVER get seen? Read ‘Winning the Lottery Is Easier than Finding Your Content’ for guidance on getting past all that noise.

I’ve said many times that Facebook is still the big gorilla in social media. You need to have a business page. For help on how to make your page and your business stand out, I suggest reading Rebekah Radice’s ‘5 Facebook Marketing Techniques to Get Your Page Seen.’ She says with a little commitment and planning, you can make new contacts daily on Facebook.

See you next week with another edition of Top Three Thursday: Social News You Can Use.

Melody Jones is your social media aspirin. She helps take the pain out of social media for you! Check out her services and see which one can reduce your social media pain the most.

I Started My Own Group: The Birth of Colorado Women in Social Media

Colorado Women in Social Media

I’m what you might call an accidental entrepreneur. I never pictured myself as my own entity, always assuming I would continue in my former career until retirement. Somebody else could worry about paying me an income and benefits, and I would just go to work.

I had a built-in support network, friends and colleagues who understood the issues inherent in that particular field. There was always someone who got my pain, challenges, good days and bad days. The support was there when I needed it.

Career pathAnd then one day I wasn’t on that career path anymore.

It took a while to find my way. I didn’t know what my identity was, and at the very least, I missed the built-in network I had developed over those many years.

Along came social media – or Facebook, to be precise – and I realized I’d found my calling. I was a natural at social media, blossomed and grew with the field, and figured out one day that I could help those who didn’t embrace it and love it as much as I did. Thus Social Media Management Services LLC was born.

Well look at that – I’m a business owner. Social Media Management Services Logo

One cold fall day I was typing along on my computer as I often am in my business, alone, and randomly thinking about how unsatisfying the networking groups I’d been to were. I was acutely aware of the network I’d lost and it seeped into my brain that I would have to create my own network of support and camaraderie to regain that sense of community and collaboration.

That little seed of a thought grew into a vague idea, and so I threw out some feelers to a few women I knew in the social media business. To my utter surprise, I got immediate interest.

Welcome to the world, Colorado Women in Social Media.

Colorado Women in Social Media
Left to right, back row: Aimee Skillin, Beth Johnston, Valerie Morris, Michelle Hoglan, Joyce Feustel, Kimbirly Orr, Melody Jones. Front row: Erin Cell, Lisa Haas, Hollie Clere. Not pictured: Rachel Moore, Lauren Gibbs, Laura E. Pence.

I started the group simply by inviting women I knew who worked in social media and asking them to invite others they knew.

My initial goal was to gather together in an informal setting where we could get to know each other, develop camaraderie, provide mentoring and education for each other, and figure out the ever-evolving world that is social media.

It was clear I was not the only solopreneur working in social media that wanted connection with like-minded women.

We’ve grown tremendously since then, and now we are a focused, energetic, professional, and fun group of women who’ve developed strong bonds through trust, dedication, and common goals.

I cannot imagine my life without the fantastic women of Colorado Women in Social Media.

Watch for another installment about our group, including group growth and the power of collaboration. Our story is only beginning!

 

Top Three Thursday: Social Media News You Can Use

Top Three Thursday ZebrasMy new feature on Thursdays is to link three useful and interesting articles from excellent websites that deal with social media and marketing subjects. As you know, changes are always afoot in the world of social media. Both you and I have a lot to keep up with!

One of my favorite gurus is Mark W. Schaefer of Schaefer Marketing Solutions. He and his community members write well-researched, useful posts. Today I recommend reading ‘Thinking around the corners. 7 ideas to re-charge your content.’ It gives seven ways you can rise above the massive content and social noise out there while being you, in your own voice. The author challenges you to dig a little deeper!

While we’re on the subject of writing content, here’s a great article from Copyblogger on repurposing and adding value to older blog content: ‘5 Simple Steps to Breathe New Life into Old Content with SlideShare.’ If you’ve never used the SlideShare tool, the author gives actionable steps on making it work for you. It’s an excellent way to improve engagement with your audience.

And finally, for those of you on the fence or confused about Twitter, here’s a write-up from Social Media Today that will help you move forward on this fast-moving platform: ‘10 Tips for Amazing Marketing on Twitter.’ It’s no longer just a for-fun social network. Twitter can be a powerful business tool.

See you next week with another edition of Top Three Thursday: Social News You Can Use.

Melody Jones is your social media aspirin. She helps take the pain out of social media for you! Check out her services and see which one can reduce your social media pain the most.