Google Caps off the Latest Social Media Seismic Shift

By Hector Cisneros

Courtesy of Flickr

Do you feel the ground beneath your social media feet quaking? That freight train sound you hear in the media background is the tornadic winds of change sweeping in from Google, Facebook, Instagram,Twitter and LinkedIn. The social media giants are rearranging the organic playing board so that it no longer looks like anything a business owner would recognize. In this episode of  Working the Web to Win, we will explore the recent major marketing and policy changes that have taken place among the social media giants and explain how these changes are affecting businesses, their marketing budgets, the traffic generated from their efforts and the return on investment they are receiving. We will also provide some new strategies which we feel will make a difference. So pull out your calculators and get ready to digest the changes that are afoot, as we delve into the current Social Media Seismic Shift that is taking place.

36 Social Media Myths and How to Slay Them – Part 3 of 3

By Hector Cisneros

Courtesy of Pixabay

For some, social media has been a godsend. It has been the great equalizer for the masses, allowing the everyday person to stand up against companies that provide poor products or services. For small businesses that are consumer-oriented, it has been a blessing because of the testimonials and high ratings they receive, allowing them to compete with big business. But for some, social media has been a curse! Any business or person who has ever been hacked, scammed, bullied or wrongfully vilified in any way knows how dreadful and relentless social media can be. It is a two-edged sword that cuts both ways. Both the positive and negative aspects of social media create myths. Sometimes, it’s because what was once great about a particular platform is now gone. Other times it’s because a one-time negative event began a bad memory that became a legend. In this episode of Working the Web to Win, which is also the third installment of “36 Social Media Myths”, we will continue with myths 25 through 36 to finish the countdown. I also recommend reading Part 1 and Part 2 of this series to get the big picture. We will include a few hidden tidbits along the way as well. So, roll up your sleeves and get ready to write down the last 12 myths as we explore the top “36 Myths in Social Media”.

36 Social Media Myths and How to Slay Them – Part 2 of 3

Courtesy of Flickr

By Hector Cisneros

One of the most interesting things about social media is that it's diverse in application but homogeneous at the same time. What I mean by this is that every social platform has its own rules, limitations, culture, social etiquette and ardent followers. Yet it does have marketing principles that have not changed since I first wrote about them back in 2009. Regardless of these principles, people will post almost anything. In fact, social media is a good internet example of what my business partner Carl calls the Wild, Wild, Web because it reminds him of how the wild west was portrayed. Granted, there are some prohibitions, and each social network sets its own standards. For Example; Facebook tries to suppress porn, yet Twitter lets it thrive. Snap chat has always allowed Sexting, but Instagram only shut it down when there is a complaint. Because of this free for all, people push social media’s boundaries, and this creates an atmosphere of widespread myth. The rapid growth of social media also perpetuates the creation of new problems which also lead to new myths. Myths create erroneous ideas of what is allowed and what works in social media. In this episode of Working the Web to Win, we will cover part 2 by going over myths 13 through 24 of the 36 myths about social media networking.   I also recommend reading Part 1 and Part3 of this series to get the big picture. Together all 36 myths compromise the most comprehensive list of social media myths ever put together.  So, make sure you read all three articles. This will eliminate any doubts or misconceptions you may have, making social media and social networking your personal ally and your business marketing best friend.

Social Media Secrets of the Rich and Famous

Courtesy of Wikipedia

By Hector Cisneros

I love the song dirty laundry by Don Henley which portrays the news industry as a system that lives off the glory and misfortunes of celebrities and the rich and famous.  However, this article is not about the dirty laundry of the rich and famous; It's about how anyone can grow an audience to a very large number by implementing marketing elements that are reciprocal to the fans it targets. Most social media articles about the rich and famous, only talk about who reached a huge following, not how they achieved their results. In this episode of Working the Web to Win, we will explore the principles of social networking that we have been espousing for several years now. So, get ready to absorb these social media principles as we unveil the evolved rules of social networking of the Rich and Famous.

Hashtagging for Business - The use of Hashtags Made Easy

Courtesy of Public Domain Pictures

By Hector Cisneros

Want to get more business? Is getting found on the Internet a priority for your businesses? Are you suffering because you only have less than a thousand followers? Well, Hash Tagging may be just what the social media director in your company needs to extend your reach. In this episode of #WorkingtheWebtoWin.com, we will explore how to use and maximize your social media reach by using Hashtags. So, get ready to Hash Tag your way to success as we cover Hashtagging for business made easy.

To Follow or Not to Follow – That is the Social Media Question?

Here’s How to Determine “If and When” you should Follow Someone Back in Social Media

By Hector Cisneros

Courtesy of Pixabay

Several years ago, a friend asked me, ‘how do you know who to follow,” after I told him that I was engaged in social media development and marketing. The question he asked was a good one because, at that time, most of what I was doing in the social media arena was new to everyone. In fact, we were in an era of discovery, testing untried techniques and methods. I quickly realized how similar social media development was to word of mouth networking, so it dawned on me to apply word of mouth marketing principles to the new social media phenomena. This application proved to be fruitful, but it did not address the need for rules for who to connect with and who to avoid. If you're engaged in social media development, you have to connect with people. Social media means following and unfollowing people, groups and businesses. This happens on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google+, LinkedIn, and when you blog (whether it’s on WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr or another platform). In this episode of Working the Web to Win, we will explore why we need to use social media to connect with others, who we need to be following, (making connections) and who we need to avoid (undesirables). Take out your highlighter and get ready to lay down some yellow lines as we take a deep dive into who to follow and why, along with how to avoid following those pesky undesirables.

Social Media Tips, Tricks and Best Practices from the Pros

By Hector Cisneros

Courtesy of www.openscholarship.info

Recently I was asked by the Clay County Chamber of Commerce to head up and participate in one of their Clay Chamber University events. These events are geared to educate its members on current hot topics so that they can effectively run their businesses.  I gathered a list of more than two dozen questions for the event as a way of preparing myself and the other panelists. If you're looking to understand many of the important issues in social media, then this article is for you. It will provide 24 questions that social media professionals are asked every day. So let's get started.