Category: Social Media

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Branding Marketing Management Social Media

Convert Your Blog Posts Into White Papers And E-Books

'epub ebooks img' photo (c) 2009, Cristian Eslava - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/Create content once and utilize it many times. That is the advice I provide to clients.  The appetite for content seems to be insatiable. Many of us do not have the time to create new content at will. And, you do not need to do so. Here are ideas for you to repurpose and repackage content.

Convert A Multi-Part Blog Post Into A White Paper

A psychologist writing about how to be a better parent may spread the ideas over 3 or 4 posts. Consolidate them together.

  • Post the white paper on your website to download.
  • Include the white paper as part of a media package.
  • Hand out the white paper to prospective or current clients.

Convert A White Paper Into An E-Book

  • Post the e-book on your website to download.
  • Include a link to the e-book in a press release.
  • List the e-book on iTunes. It can be free or you might even make a few dollars selling it.

Convert Multiple Posts On A Similar Topic Into A White Paper

A lawyer with 5 or 7 posts all on wills can create a larger document. Such as  a white paper or e-book.

The Takeaway

There are many more ways to repurpose and repackage your content. Start with your blog and see how it progresses.

Over to you.  What are your thoughts?  Please comment below.

  1. How have your re-used your blog posts?
  2. How successful were your efforts to reuse the blog posts?
  3. What other repackaging ideas do you utilize?

If you would like to contact me, you may do so by visiting my LinkedIn page, following me on Twitter,  or e-mailing me at rcberman2 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Categories
Public Relations Social Media

Not Your Father’s Press Release

'Free Press Release Submission and Distribution with integrated Linkbuilding and Directory Listing - For Free.' photo (c) 2010, Heidi Mueller - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/ Those of us who have been around a while know the value of Press Releases. There are many reasons to issue them.  If you work with a Publicist they are likely to tell you about Online Press Releases.

Why would I want to put my Press Release Online?

  • build links back to your site
  • build your online brand
  • help position you or your company as experts
  • searchable on news wire services forever
  • the content is indexed by search engines
  • published within hours of submission
  • can embed links, videos, podcasts
  • show pictures in the document javascript and HTML feeds
  • RSS can spread the release for and wide
  • Allows you to include the keywords that you are focusing on

There are many Online Press Release Services available. 

Michael Hartzell, a blogger compiled a list of over 60 press release websites online.

Tips for writing The Online Press Release

  • determine what your key words are
  • use photos, video, etc
  • have a hook in the story to grab attention
  • focus on one message for each release
  • know your audience – speak to them in the right language and tone
  • be relevant – your content should be relevant and timely
  • satisfy customer demand – create content on hot topics for those viewing the Press Release.
  • alt tag all images to make them searchable
  • include a link to your website home page
  • include a link to the product or service page that you talked about in the release
  • include a link to a blog post that is relevant to the topic
  • put key words in the URL string

The Takeaway

Online press releases should be part of your marketing mix. They reach a different and broader audience than your offline press releases.

That is the information. What do you think? Please comment below.

1. Do you use online press releases?

2. How effective have you found them to be?

3. What other advice would you add?

If you would like to contact me, you may do so by visiting my LinkedIn page, following me on Twitter,  or e-mailing me at rcberman2 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Categories
Social Media

Do You Have a Social Media Policy?

'Social Media Policy: How To Write It' photo (c) 2011, Cambodia4kids.org Beth Kanter - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/Social Media has exploded over the last couple of years.  We are more attached to devices that allow us to be connected to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and various blogs.

The Workplace

At work, many employees like to connect via their employer’s network.  Employers have erected firewalls or blocked sites to help protect their systems from outside attacks.  The result is decreased ability for employees to reach these sites.

Other companies allow free access to these Social Media sites with little or no rules.  On one hand that allows employees to access and post on these sites.  On the other hand, how much time are employees spending on these sites instead of performing their job duties?

Questions to Consider

During the time on the Social Media sites are your employees talking about your company?  Is it positive or negative?  Are they authorized to mention or represent your company on these sites?

Lots of questions.  Do you have a Social Media policy?  There are a number of generic ones online to either implement or use as a starting point.

The Takeaway

Create a Social Media policy for your company before your employees create a defacto one.

Those are my thoughts.  How about you?  Please comment below.

  1. Do you have a Social Media policy?
  2. What is your company’s approach to Social Media?
  3. Are you planning to adjust your approach?

If you would like to contact me, you may do so by visiting my LinkedIn page, following me on Twitter,  or e-mailing me at rcberman2 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Categories
Social Media

17 Social Media Mistakes to Avoid

Mistakes With Social Mediaphoto © 2009 Mykl Roventine | more info (via: Wylio)
Small businesses have jumped headfirst into the Social Media Pool.  Do they know how to swim or just tread water?

They might be starting to sink if they are making a number of these mistakes.

1.      Participating in too many networks or vehicles.

2.      Not fully completing profiles on each network.

3.      Selling instead of informing prospects and potential prospects.

4.      Too aggressively contacting people and thus, having your content thought of as SPAM.

5.      Delegating planning to others without giving it “the once over.”  Use your gut to check it out.

6.      Friending people just to turn around and pitch them your product or service.

7.      Not clearly defining your reasons for using Social Media.

8.      Not measuring the ROI of your Social Media efforts.

9.      Getting defensive about comments made on your blog, Facebook Fan Page etc.

10.  Not having a clear distinction between personal and professional online identities.

11.  Not learning and evolving strategy based upon earlier efforts.

12.  Lack of a Social Media calendar.

13.  Thinking Social Media is the “silver bullet” for what ails the firm.

14.  Not monitoring or limited monitoring of your blog, web site, Twitter account etc.

15.  Not regularly adding new information to your web site, blog, Facebook Fan Page etc.

16.  Employing same tactics for each Social Media vehicle.

17.  Not balancing the need for technology with the need to respond, interact and engage.

The Takeaway

Social Media is a wonderful opportunity for your firm.  Make a plan, implement and adjust as necessary to leverage properly your efforts.

That is the list.  Over to you.  Please add your comments below.

1.      What else would you add to the list?

2.      How successful do you feel your Social Media strategy has been?

3.      What will you do next with your Social Media strategy?

If you would like to contact me, you may do so by visiting my LinkedIn page, following me on Twitter,  or e-mailing me at rcberman2 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Categories
Branding Social Media

Why Should I Be on Twitter and What Should I Do First?

Twitter Blingphoto © 2010 Dave Mott | more info (via: Wylio)
I was asked by an acquaintance, at a networking event, why he should be on Twitter.  He knew that I was active on Twitter and wondered how to get started since it seemed so daunting.  I turned to my friends at Twitter Strategies Group on LinkedIn to help me answer the question.

Continue reading “Why Should I Be on Twitter and What Should I Do First?”