Your Digital Marketing Coach with Neal Schaffer

Neal interviews Mike Gingerich from TabSite on best practices in maximizing your Facebook marketing for your business regardless of size.Key Highlights[00:30] Introduction of Podcast Guest, Mike Gingerich[02:00] Case Studies of Successful Companies Using Tabsite[04:45] Developing Your First Campaign[07:40] Mike's Best Advice for Facebook Marketing in 2014[08:34] Facebook for Business[09:11] Lookalike Audience[13:00] The Benefits of Using Tabsite[15:28] Connect with MikeNotable QuotesAnd the more you engage with the page, the more they will show you contrast that page thinking that's a value to you will show you more of that.I think you first need to know your What are your end goals? Are you trying to build up your reach on your page? Are you trying to get email signups? You need to determine, you know, exactly what what's going to look like success to you. So you have to determine what that is, it needs to be something that's going to be relevant, something that's not going to be too high dollar to you, but it is a value to them to get.So you want to put those as well as communicating that out on your other social channels and your email list and mitt, your website, your blog, that type of thing, then you want to you want to follow up and engage with those people afterwards and know what you're going to do with that information afterwards.I think with Facebook, marketing 2014, it's going to be key to evaluate your your content, what you're posting on Facebook. And in terms of you need to look at your what your goals are.And people say oh, you know, Facebook used to be free now you have to pay. But the converse side of that is that you can get a ad on Facebook. And because Facebook knows so much about you what your Likes are your your interest, those types of things, for the individuals that for business, that's that's a very valuable tool, because you can get very specific and who you target and to reach your audience, whether that's a local audience, or whether that's a specific international global audience.  Facebook can help you reach just that unique target audience.Another quote from my visit to Facebook was when you think mobile think Facebook. Learn More:Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazonBuy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazonJoin My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmoDownload My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschafferAll My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Many businesses see the potential value in Google Plus but few are investing the time they need to results. Join Neal as he interviews Google Plus superstar Amanda Blain and fellow social media marketer Charise Strandberg to learn tips and tricks on how to cross the chasm and derive benefits from a Google Plus presence.Key Highlights[00:50] Introduction of Podcast Guests[02:38] Finding Value in Google Plus[04:26] Google Plus for Professional and Business Objectives[05:22] How Amanda Started Finding Value in Google Plus[07:43] Amanda's Recommendations on Using Google Plus[08:40] Focus on Conversations on Google Plus[09:38] Keep It Real[10:57] Add Variety[12:11] Jetpack Plugin[13:38] Charise's Final Advice[14:24] Amanda's Final AdviceNotable QuotesIt's crucial that they're on there and I think that their competitors are going to be if they're not. So brands need to be aware that they need to consider that a major network or they're going to be catching up later on.But you need to start now you need to get in there, you need to start talking to other people need to start having discussions, and there's lots of room for growth on that side.Even though I have obviously the largest audience on Google Plus, I still think it's important to maintain all of them, all of them serve a different purpose in some way or another, I use Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, everything. I's important to have that level of different platforms, because some people like things and work better in different ways.You have to develop it in a conversation, join other communities that are involved in the topics that you're interested in. And that will take some time, it's not gonna happen overnight. Just like it doesn't happen overnight. When you're at a real life networking event. It takes time to develop relationships. And you have to do that on Google Plus to get the engagement that you want.But I think that will come, I don't think I've seen it, you know, as long as they be consistent about it, and don't just give up and walk away. Like she said, it's, it's gonna come, but it's just finding out what works for them. And keeping a variety on there. Don't just keep putting the same stuff out there, you know, put some funny stuff, put some images, put some valuable information engaged, keep it a variety, and people will enjoy.This is an opportunity to, you know, follow people in your niche and bring people in. So just keep an open mind. I would think and don't put your other networks, as we mentioned, I mean, I'm probably running 14, Foursquare Pinterest. Don't wear yourself out either, but don't be left behind.Learn More:Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazonBuy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazonJoin My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmoDownload My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschafferAll My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

I am honored in this episode to interview the one and only Michael Stelzner, founder of Social Media Examiner, as he talks about the upcoming 2nd Social Media Marketing World in San Diego, California in late March, 2014. Learn what differentiates his social media conference from others.Key Highlights[00:29] Introduction of Podcast Guests, Mike Stelzner[01:13] Who is Mike and What Mike Does[02:15] Wat Made Mike Launch from Blog into Physical Social Media Marketing Summits[03:43] The Value of Attending Physical Social Media Conferences[05:07] How Mike Differentiated His Conference from Others[07:01] Mike's Little Secret[08:58] Improving from Last Conferences[10:34] New Speakers Coming In[12:26] Final Thoughts[12:44] Connect with MikeNotable QuotesWhen people ask me about the value of going to social media, conferences, physical ones, you do have the education, but then you do have the networking and you meet people that you may end up working together with, you may end up end up hiring, they may end up hiring you or you make friends for life, it's really a magical thing when you bring people together, so I couldn't agree with you more.I'd thrive on on being able to meet people face to face and actually have conversations and not just like in nightclubs where the music is blaring, and a lot of these other conferences, they had their parties, but they were in nightclubs. And you could you just couldn't hear anything, you know, and it was impossible to network.And you know, it just goes to show that we often forget, but social media is about the social part, right? It's totally about meeting each other. And a lot of people forget about that.But I think the real stuff that happens is when you make those kinds of connections, that could lead to future you know, collaborations, or, like you said, employees or, or just, you know, building deeper relationships with people that you love and respect so that you never know what will happen.I wanted the speakers because this is a social media conference, I wanted the speakers to actually be accessible. So we didn't actually give them a place to go just for them. Instead, we gave everyone the same place to go, which was this massively big placeLearn More:Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazonBuy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazonJoin My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmoDownload My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschafferAll My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Social media is beginning to be taught in universities as a core skill that students will need in the business world. Neal Schaffer interviews two professors at NOVA Southeastern University, Jim Barry and John Gironda, on how they got started with their program, what they teach, and the challenges that they and their students face.Key Highlights[02:11] Introduction of Podcast Guests[03:27] How Jim Started in Teaching Social Media Marketing[05:02] Why You Should Have Courses in Social Media?[07:03] Why Students Take Courses on Social Media[08:45] Areas You Can Get Expert On with Social Media Education[09:55] Hudson Institute for Executive Training[11:03] The Most Challenging Things for Students to Grasp[12:53] The Hardest to Teach About Social Media[14:29] Practical Business Application[15:05] You Have to Walk the Talk[15:23] Connect with John and JimmyNotable QuotesI would say that starts with it's, it's changed the framework for marketing. And it's a different mindset.I would start with the transmitted transmission we're making from outbound to inbound marketing, and the role of content in place of cold calling. So starting with it, just conceptually, I think that becomes more important than changing platform.I think social media marketing is one way to do that to show a tangible field that's growing and popular. And it gives them a chance that no matter what field they go into, I think you've you mentioned that earlier, as we were talking before we started recording no matter what field, you're in having social media expertise can only enhance your marketability.I think as far as the individual platforms that are changing, we've seen that recently, of more platforms becoming more and more popular, and other ones maybe losing popularity, it's still important to look at some sort of universal need, or universal themes that that consumers are engaging in. So it's still important, it's still very worthwhile to teach courses on social media marketing, because I don't think in general the field is it's still going to be around.It almost lies in the fact that students don't realize how much work actually goes into the social media marketing itself. Do you think of the actual the perspiration, we call it, where the legwork that you have to put into it and continually updating your content and be and having fresh content that you kind of just want to, you know, do it once and then walk away and not touch it again.It's difficult to get students to understand how platform works without purpose.So the challenge a lot of times is like, what do you roll out first. And we finally I think we nailed it with you kind of give them a high level overview, a very advanced information that you see over time, you're gonna get a more enriched understanding, taken out of content trail, and aLearn More:Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazonBuy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazonJoin My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmoDownload My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschafferAll My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

If you're accountable for your social media program, you're accountable for your social media ROI. Do you have a strategy in hand?Key Highlights[00:56] The Thing I See Missing About the Debate on ROI of Social Media[01:48] Social Media is Eating A Lot of Marketing Budget[02:21] The Notion of Accountability[02:59] Do You Really Need to Invest That Much in Social Media?[04:21] Are You Employing Best Practices in Maximizing the ROI of Your Marketing Budget?[05:12] Are You Being Accountable for What You're Spending?[07:29] Maximize Your EffortsNotable QuotesI think the thing that's missing, and I talked about this in Maximizer, social how social media is a never ending, changing landscape. And therefore there's a need to be nimble to be measuring to experiment to try new things.There's a notion of accountability and everything you do. And I think this is the missing piece in the social media ROI debate, that you are accountable for what you invest in, the company is accountable, whoever approves, especially when companies say, well, we want to own social media, okay?If you want to rise above the noise, it's commonly or I would say, it is going to be more and more so that it is going to be a pay to play scenario for what it's worth.With the evolution of social business, we're all starting to work together and And the more you know, social media becomes an important part of your business as it begins to be used enterprise wide, there's obviously going to be more oversight into well, what are we spending?But I do believe there's going to be a time when the accountability question will be called in when sales start to fall, when profits start to fall, we need to cut budget, where are we going to cut it?Let's call it a social business strategy, where ideally, you have influential stakeholders internally that have written off on where you are measuring what you're doing. And your social media activities are aligned with your business objectives. Without doing that, you know, you really run the risk of potentially not only losing your budget, but losing your job.If you haven't read, maximize your social in that book really is all about really creating that social media strategy and and measuring the ROI so that you know that you are 100% accountable for every dollar that you spend in your social media program.But even within that, whatever allocation you have all you really maximizing your efforts, and that's really where I think a robust social media strategy creation, maintenance and optimization comes into play.Learn More:Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazonBuy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazonJoin My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmoDownload My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschafferAll My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

I recently had a chat with fellow social media marketing professionals Debbie Miller and Albert Qian, both of whom want to get started podcasting. Listen to my advice, given while enjoying a bowl of ramen in the food court of a local Japanese supermarket!Key Highlights[00:29] Introduction of Podcast Guests[02:17] Podcast Guest #1: Albert Qian[03:16] Podcast Guest #2: Debbie Miller[04:02] Why Albert and Debbie Decide to Podcast Rather than Video Blog?[06:07] How to Get Started on Podcast: Equipment[07:39] Where Did I Start Doing Podcast[08:46] The Challenge I Had in Podcasting[09:03] Working on My Intro and Outro[11:34] How I Upload My Podcast[12:48] Promoting the Podcast[13:49] One of the Downsides of Sony IC RecorderNotable QuotesSo you know, I'm interested in podcasting, because I think it's another great avenue to reach my audience and you know, build more content. And a lot of people don't like to read these days, they'd rather listen. And so I want to give my future audiences here and the ability to consume what I have to say in a different way.For me, podcasting, at least recording my voice into a microphone is a lot quicker.You don't need some high powered device to do it. Now. There's a lot of podcasters who invest money, they have their own, you know, environment and, and that's all awesome, but I think that intimidates a lot of people. And to get started, I'd say you can even use your iPhone, you don't even need to invest in anything more right.So I think having someone like that it requires a monthly expenses, not a lot of money, but it requires someone's time. That's the approach it I don't have the time, I just want to concentrate on the content. And I also realized that if I'm going to have people subscribe to my podcast, I need something exclusive that my other networks don't have.I'm trying to maybe blog about my podcast and maximize your social, but really stick to the podcast content. But then when I went broader thought leadership type of content, that's where I blog on maximize social business. Learn More:Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazonBuy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazonJoin My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmoDownload My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschafferAll My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

What social media trends should businesses pay attention to in the new year? I explain the major trends that will help your business continue your social media success into the new year.Key Highlights[01:35] Trends Emerged in 2013 that I Think Are Going to Get Stronger in 2014.[01:55] The Strategic Initiative of Employee Advocacy[04:33] The Year of Google Plus[05:27] Companies that Leverage Google Plus[06:19] Paid Social Will Be Fully Mainstream[07:51] More Emphasis on Content Creation[09:15] It's All About EvolutionNotable QuotesNow, companies are always looking outside corporate walls for brand advocates and social media. But many of your most passionate advocates are also those who have deep ties to your company. They're your employees. Each individual employee has influence in their own unique social network, their own professional and personal graph. The more employees that can help share your social media messages. The broader reach a company can yield and social media. I do see that creating a successful employee advocacy program. It has its challenges. But the evolution of both social business, as well as employee advocacy platforms and tools should progress this program forward in many companies in 2014. Once companies realize that Google Plus is not just a community, like other social networks, but it's also a social layer for all things. Google with many entry ways leading into Google Plus, it becomes an absolute no brainer to establish a presence on the site.Social media was never free, due to the fact that an investment of time and resources was always needed, right. And if online ad budgets are available, it only makes sense to shift some of this money into social advertisements to help make your social program more effective.I still believe paid social is one of the most underutilized aspects of social media marketing. But 2014 should see more companies utilizing paid advertising on more social networks, to help make sure above and beyond their legacy social media program, that they are found by relevant audiences throughout social media.At the end of the day, okay, it is unique, branded content, whether it be in the form of a blog post, a photo, a video, audio, presentation, or other medical format. It's these types of contents that become a shareable corporate asset in social media.Together with the rise of content marketing, a content centric social media marketing strategy will become all the more important to help businesses rise above the noise, and be more effective in their social media practice.It's all about this evolution. And the evolution is caused by more and more people using the sites, using them in different ways, and the site's themselves maturing.Learn More:Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazonBuy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazonJoin My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmoDownload My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschafferAll My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Have you ever shared a Circle on Google Plus or seen others sharing one? Learn about their hidden powers and how to leverage what most businesses have yet to figure out!Key Highlights[01:43] The Advantage of Google Plus[02:49] Looking at the Early Days of Twitter[02:58] The Challenge with Google Plus[04:18] My Suggestions For You with Google Plus[04:47] The Initial Step of Engagement You Should Be Doing[05:11] One of the Interesting Things You Can Do to Engage in Google Plus[05:24] The Power of Circle Sharing[06:55] Why Circle Sharing?[07:55] Circle Sharing As A Form of Engagement[10:11] The Most Underutilized Aspect of Social Media MarketingNotable QuotesI do believe it is starting to reach that tipping point where people are no longer asking, Well, I thought Google Plus was a ghost town, or why should my company be on it? And realizing that it is a natural extension of a communication channel that your social media program should make sure it encompasses, right.And it hurts me that also, no one is talking about LinkedIn, it's just a place where you go to look for a job, people realize that it is a professional networking environment with, you know, obviously chances to exhibit your thought leadership to learn, and also to develop new business relationships.I'll talk about my experiment a bit is obviously you want to find those people that are actually engaging on Google Plus.I saw a lot of people sharing that I thought, you know, what, I want to help other people find those that are actually engaging with my content. In other words, these are people that are plus money that are commenting that are sharing, they're real people. And they have an interest in social media content, which a lot of my other followers do as well, people are on Google Plus not just looking for information, but to find other people to follow into to make new relationships, right.So by looking at the circles that are shared by the people that you respect, and that you follow, it gives you a good introduction to people that have been vetted, that you may want to follow as well.It's about really the people and bringing people together because of a common interest. And I believe, and this is one of the most underutilized aspects of social media marketing.I believe that brands business pages, sharing circles of their fans, ideally, fans that have engaged with them, right, but sharing circles with their fans and highlighting their fans. I think that can be a very, very special way to engage with your fans to thank your fans, to build a deeper relationship with your fans. And most of all, to create that community so that fans can discover each other. And thank you for that and really build a stronger and deeper community, as a byproduct of that data is something okay, that you can't do on any other pLearn More:Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazonBuy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazonJoin My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmoDownload My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschafferAll My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Many find their biggest social media challenge to be an internal one: How to convince your executive team of your social media investment. Here's some advice on how to explain your social media team internally, build consensus, and receive more recognition (and budget) for your activities. Key Highlights[00:59] Go Big or Go Home Approach[02:05] Everybody is Doing Social Media[02:31] The Two Different Types of Companies I See[03:59] The Challenge of Selling Social Media Internally[05:54] Reasons Why Executives Are Fearful of Social Media[06:30] My Advice on Convincing People Internally[07:44] Write Internal Reports Regularly[07:54] Paint Holistic Picture of Your Social Media ProgramNotable QuotesIf you're gonna make content, make account instead of just trying to churn out things on a regular basis.And I think at this point, now, it really depends on what level your social media program or your social media literacy is at. But my feeling as we end 2013 is, look, everybody is doing social media, right?We need to be where our customers are, we need to be innovative, and we need to be ahead of them. And this is why they have this very innovative and aggressive approach to being whatever platform their customer might be on.And that is the challenge of selling social media internally, you have these companies that are pretty famous companies that have robust social media presences. Yet, they are not fully understood internally.Because you as no matter what you represent in your company, you can read books, you can listen to podcasts, you can experiment, and I always say social media isn't rocket science was made for people by people. And therefore when businesses learn to engage alongside other people as people and offer value, I think you will be able to find a lot of different ways to become more effective and achieve whatever objective you have, and there's a lot more tools out there that helped us do that as well. But convincing people internally is the challenge, because it really requires people to change their mindset. And when we think of people internally, these are people, often in companies, they are older people that have very firm mindsets, they were perhaps successful at a part of their career before social media even existed. So when I wrote maximize your social X, he wrote it with the intent of both, whether you're an executive, or you're a social media marketer, or what have you, you'll be able to really, you know, improve your social media literacy, and be able to see why you should be investing more and not left in social media.But I wanted to share with you my advice for the social media director at this consumer brand, as to how to convince people internally and knowing the challenge, it really does come down to education is number one.You really need to whittle sociaLearn More:Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazonBuy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazonJoin My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmoDownload My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschafferAll My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

While in Toronto speaking, Neal interviews @ValTorontoGal from Charming Media and @MegButton from Star Content Studios for advice that a Public Relations as well as Content Marketing Agency can offer your business.Key Highlights[01:15] Introduction of Podcast Guests[02:48] How Social Media Can Help Companies[04:25] Meg and Val's Worst Experiences[08:27] Tips that Help Meg and Val Achieve Greatness in Social Media[10:37] The Value of Working with Content and PR AgenciesNotable QuotesI generally like to say, well, for us, because you're doing such a big traditional media awareness campaign, it's very good to support it with any type of social media support, especially if you're working with, you know, online publications, bloggers, they're gonna be mentioning your brand online, they're going to be talking to online. It is a natural complement. And it's almost a shame to be focusing all your attention in one area and not on that area as well.And the biggest thing that I would tell them is, you know, it's it's very easy to get excited and overwhelmed and all those good things, but it's always about your audience. And to me, that's where it always has to start, whether you're talking about social media or any type of media, it you know, it's it's overwhelming, but it's also exciting.So to me, that's, that's the biggest thing that I'm seeing is that they're everyone's looking for a quick, short route to get to kind of the holy grail of having an engaging brand. And you don't realize that there's a lot of work that goes into it.I think it's, it's really it's people are very used to seeing like, a direct and really fast ROI. And that's social media can happen. It can be really fast and explode.I think it helps to really find good brand ambassadors to help you push out your content. It's one thing if you're, you know, tweeting about what you like from your brand and Facebooking about it. But if you have good genuine brand ambassadors, I think that's a great way to really enhance everything that you're doing.But often the proof really just sets the record straight. And I find that sometimes if you're not getting a lot of traction, go to the statistics look and find proof for what you're saying and validate your points. And that really was very successful for a last campaign that we did with one of our clients.Learn More:Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazonBuy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazonJoin My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/ Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmoDownload My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschafferAll My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com