Why Social Media Is Important for Business

Multiple businesses are still fearful of embracing social media. Unfortunately, they do not realize that the conversation is already present, with or without them. With that said, it only makes sense to participate in the conversation.

Eric Brown of Urbane Apartments realized this back in 2004 and found social media to be so effective that he eventually dropped all print advertising and paid advertising online. As he pointed out, print advertising has a shelf life, but anything put on an outlet such as a blog, does not.

After a business becomes active in social media, Brown said you will find that people are less likely to attack your brand since they know you will respond. Although you cannot control the conversation, you can participate, which largely influences the control factor.

Brown advises other businesses to get involved in social media. He specifically recommended blogs and said they provide the greatest amount of leverage for the lowest amount of investment.

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Blogging Is Not Dead!

In this age of Facebook and Twitter, how do you feel about blogs? Some reports say that blogging is dead, but is it? According to Stoney deGeyter, the President of Pole Position Marketing, it is anything but dead.

He said, “It’s [Facebooking and Twittering] not going to overtake and kill blogging by any means because blogging is a way to tell a full and complete story.”

He compares updating Facebook statuses and Twittering in 140 characters or less to watching a movie in short clips. Through these channels, followers and friends can only receive choppy snippets. Blogs, however, provide comprehensive information.

The best solution is to use Facebook, Twitter, and blogs in a joint effort. He suggests using Facebook and Twitter to promote blog content.

As deGeyter points out, it is especially important for small businesses to utilize blogs. Since businesses sometimes make the mistake of using their blogs only for promotional purposes, deGeyter suggests they create personalized content in order to draw readers back again and again. Not only do blogs break down the corporate barrier, but they also open up new doors of communication.

So, is the age of blogging is over, or is it simply being enhanced by new platforms?

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Gray Areas of FTC Guidelines

Although the FTC’s new advertising guidelines are scheduled to go into effect tomorrow, there are still many gray areas that have yet to be clarified. WebProNews caught up with Wendy Piersall, Founder of the Woo! Jr. Network, and spoke with her about many of the “It depends,” scenarios regarding the new rules.

The Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising hope to regulate how advertisers utilize endorsements by consumers, experts, organizations, celebrities, and bloggers. The FTC is calling for these parties to openly disclose their relationships with the company or brand they are endorsing, which is causing quite a rise from the blogosphere.

Piersall raised many points on both sides of the debate. On one side, many people feel like they have to “justify” what they are talking about. For example, someone may provide a complimentary statement toward a brand without realizing that it could be perceived as an endorsement. Piersall said she has become very conscious of how she injects brands into her work.

On the flip side, if someone is willing to associate his personal brand with another brand, then he must also be willing to face the consequences that could be affiliated with it. According to Piersall, while brands should not expect bloggers to spread their message for free, bloggers should also be open and disclose their relationship.

Although the gray areas remain, Piersall hopes that people take both the ethics and consequences into consideration moving forward. To read the complete text of the guidelines, the official documentation can be found here.

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How Teens Can Make Money Online

When it comes to SEO, Stephan Spencer is one of the best experts in the industry. But when it comes to content monetization, his eighteen-year-old daughter Chloe is also considered an authority. While other teenagers were busy babysitting and working in food service, Chloe was beginning a successful career online.

After her dad explained to her how Google AdSense worked, she decided to create a fan site for the ever-popular Neopets. Chloe did everything right. She picked an area of interest and then utilized various offerings from the search engines. Her site took off and she began making money.

In the area of advice, Chloe suggests having relevant ads that blend into the content. She also recommends putting ads above the fold (before you have to scroll) in order to be visible.

As for her future, Chloe said she isn’t sure if she wants pursue a complete career online. She did say that she would continue to blog at www.chloespencer.com but is also considering film school. Best of luck to you, Chloe!

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Email Marketing Not Dead Yet

Because email marketing is one of the oldest forms of Internet marketing, many people think it is outdated and not useful. But according to blogging legend Darren Rowse of ProBlogger, it is anything but dead.

He began utilizing email newsletters since his parents wanted a way to get the latest content from his blog. Rowse originally thought that RSS would kill email marketing but now realizes that email is one of the most popular ways that people, both young and old, access information on the Web.

As a result of his email marketing efforts, two thirds of the people that subscribe to his blog now subscribe to his weekly newsletter as well. Only one third of the people that subscribe to his blog also subscribe to his RSS feeds. Consequently, email is now one of Rowse’s most effective forms of marketing.

On a side note, Rowse along with two other blogging rockstars Chris Brogan and Brian Clark, have joined together to create a philosophy known as the Third Tribe. Traditionally, bloggers have been linked into one of two groups. The first group does not like to sell or market at all. The second group, also called the Internet marketing crowd, markets continually.

Rowse, Brogan, and Clark are building a site to help people who want to find a balance between the two groups. WebProNews will keep you posted on the Third Tribe as more information becomes available.

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