Top 3 Engagement Marketing Articles

Teaching my concepts to others

I separate myself from other Social Media professionals by really learning all I can about “engagement”. Anyone can post anything online and call themselves a social media marketer. What about creating a movement through engagement with actual ongoing conversations using social media? If you’ve ever met me you’ll know I’m as social in-person as I am online. These tools for offline and online marketing will be useful for obtaining a lead online and following through offline:

Business Etiquette: 5 Rules That Matter Now (start this immediately)

How to Write a Thank-You Note That Matters (key points to use offline)

30 Things to Tweet About Your Brand (print this handy to-do list)

How to be a Social Butterfly Offline & In-Person

I have been complimented that I’m both socially online and in person. I wish I can share my secrets b/c it has exposed me to exceptional professionals and marketers within months of my move to this area. I found an article on Forbes very useful for anyone who might need some tips on How to Work a Room Like You Own The Place. I was especially found this concept useful:

4. Get the lay of the land. Observe group formations before choosing whom to approach. Look for people who are most likely to respond positively. These would be individuals standing alone who are waiting for someone to talk to, or groups of twos and threes that are open to new participants. You can see this in their body language: if they are facing outward, chances are they are having a casual conversation and would be happy for others to join in.

Be Genuinely Interested in Others (not just in telling everyone about yourself), ask lots of questions, and smile! 🙂

10 Social Media Marketing Sins

Would you trust a baby with your Facebook Page?

Whenever I see reposts from (Twitter Guru) Susie Blackmon‘s tweets on Heidi Cohen (actionable marketing expert), I know it is a good read because it will include practical social media marketing knowledge that could be applicable to various markets such as the B2B to B2C.

The most important bullet on social media marketing sins from Heidi Cohen’s blog includes Number 7:

“Hiring a kid who knows Facebook, not employing an experienced marketer who understands your products, brands and company. “

Situation: I have been speaking to a couple of companies interested in having social media marketing expertise. The story sometimes includes hiring an intern in college who didn’t know the brand or understand the mission of the company who started a Facebook or Twitter page for the company- just to get it done. Moreover, the intern left or graduated from college and somehow the owner of the company is left to do FB or Twitter page with limited knowledge on the platform itself. In extreme cases, I’ve read interns who didn’t handle customer services correctly through these platforms and it resulted in damaging the reputation of the brand.

Solution: Owners of companies should hire an expert because marketing through the social media platforms are one of the most direct forms of communication you have with customers. Hire a social media consultant and inform them about the brand. This person will understand how to use the right tools to increase visibility and communications with customers to enable understanding of the products, services, and value for them!

Have a question? Don’t hesitate to contact me for information about social media. Click here.

Internet of Yesterday & Today: 1996 vs. 2011 [INFOGRAPHIC]

Someone once told me that some folks have the attention span of a flea. (I agree, I am one of those individuals) Now I can excuse myself formally and keep adding these unique infographics to make a point of where we’re headed in the future. Don’t get stuck in yesterday’s technology, let me know how I can help you with your social media marketing campaigns through consultations, email me EquineVal@gmail.com or call 786-47-HORSE, please view this infographic of how far we’ve come in 15 years (via Mashable):

Social Media Marketing and growing your business

In an effort to prove that social media marketing isn’t just something that teenagers and hip individuals do, it can really grow your business if you’re determined to really put the time it takes to invest in your brand to a broad audience, visit the picture below from Mashable:

need a simple walk through of what you need to do? Don’t hesitate to contact me for details: EquineVal@gmail.com or call me personally at 786-47-HORSE

Equine Agvocate

Brainstorming some advocacy ideas

I recently attended an Agvocacy 2.0 (Agvocating for Agriculture using Social media) conference in Nashville. I had the pleasure to interview with Chuck Zimmerman of ZimmComm New Media, LLC about being an agvocate for the equine and farming industry using Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn as a platform to spread the word.

Here is all the information on the interview, click Here

***You can listen to my interview with Chuck Zimmerman: Equine Agvocate: Valentina

Inbound Lead Nuturing: the Basics

This post is ideal for keeping a dialogue with potential customers, never forget that with all of the technology available there is always a human touch that is needed to close a sale, especially in this niche. This PPT provides case studies and 7 simple steps that make learning the concept pretty easy. The point is never forget to follow up and respond ASAP to inquires! These steps are ideal for a check list of things to do for the pet, horse, and agriculture community where the product is meant for a living thing, sometimes a “family” member to the customers.

Lessons Learned in Agri Marketing

I just came back from TN from the Agchat Foundation Conference called Agvocacy 2.0. It was a Social Media (SM) Training conference catered to Agricultural folks/farmers/ranchers, lessons include Blogging, Advanced Twitter/Facebook Tips, and Creating Impactful Images through Vblogging. Also, most importantly promoting Agvocacy! I really enjoyed meeting such amazing people who are making a difference in Agriculture and how food is brought to my plate.

Here I am brainstorming some ideas for my Blog with the tips learned at ACFC11:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like to say that I learned the most from John Blue (& Mace Thornton) from Truffle Media such as how to create better videos for your blog with great insightful tips that are perfect for people like myself who have a great attention to detail. Also, John had great suggestions on advanced twitter tools to keep me following more active users.

I really enjoyed both beginner and advanced blogging suggestions from Janice Person, Katie Pinke, and Ryan Goodman. Overall they mentioned that it is all about telling a story to your fans about your lifestyle: the good and the hectic moments. They also touched upon google analytics and the pro/cons of WordPress and Blogger.

I also learned great apps for my iPad/MacBook Pro from Chuck Zimmerman and we talked about how: It’s Great to Be a Florida Gator!

I wish I had more time to speak with Mindy Jo Montgomery who wanted to chat but was heading out of the conference.

Here is the group picture (with my eyes open!)

Viral Marketing and World Wide Rave

This is an excellent post from one of my favorite authors, David Meermann Scott. He basically inspired me to be passionate social media marketing back in 2009. This PPT has innovative information to help boost your inbound content (ebooks, focus on your different buyer personas, etc). It is worth reading, please do so. You won’t regret it! I don’t want to give too much away this time, because I want you to be impressed with the tips he gives you. Imagine, if you could apply this information to your niche or industry, especially this great industry I cater my blog to, such as the four-legged industry which focuses on pets, horses, and other creatures that we love. I really appreciate those that think outside the box, like what David suggest on this PPT.

Listen to the Godfather: Watch Your Competitors

 

Whether you’re in the Pet or Horse industry, you can’t help to notice that when you walk into a feed store or pet store/speciality shop, there are hundreds of products out there ranging from shampoos, dental items, creams for nicer coats, tack, etc that promise that THEIR product is better than others. Don’t even get me started on those products that are organic and holistic. Not to mention those products that have box-ads, a DVD playing their pitch in-front of the cash register, or even those advanced in marketing that say “Scan this QR code for more info on how this product can make “Fluffy” do…”. How can you separate yourself from your competitors? In this highly competitive industry, I suggest you read this article below that covers all the basics.

I found this article from a tweet from Social Media Guru, Susie Blackmon, who originally got it from Heidi Cohen’s website. (The article explains why I used Andy Garcia’s picture) Click below for the full article:

16 Competitive Marketing Elements to Track