14Aug 2016 by Bob Cargill

Three Key Ingredients to Success on Social Media

Branding, Marketing, Social Media
To say that businesses and brands have come a long way in their usage of social media would be an understatement. After all, not only have more of them than not established a presence on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and the like, many of them are finally looking at social media as a valuable, respected communications stream as opposed to a necessary evil. Gone are the days when so many marketers were debating the pros and cons of investing even a small portion of their time and budgets in social media. Almost everyone agrees now that we’re talking about a permanent, revolutionary sea change in how consumers interact with companies, not merely a passing fad. That’s the good news. Unfortunately, despite how much progress we’ve made when it comes to social…
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04Jul 2016 by Bob Cargill

10 Ways Brands Can Use Facebook Live

Branding, Facebook, Marketing, Social Media
It was only a matter of time. On the heels of Periscope’s wildly successful run as pretty much the only game in town over the course of the last year or so, Facebook has finally released its own live streaming app, Facebook Live. While Twitter’s Periscope basked in the glory of having grown to over 10 million users after only four months in business, Facebook Live promises to be even more popular. Never mind the fact that Live works almost the same as Periscope – seamlessly, easily, instantaneously – its potential user base and audience of over 1.5 billion casts more than a large shadow over any predecessors and competitors in the live streaming app space. How do you use Facebook Live? It’s simple. Just go to Facebook on your…
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04Jun 2016 by Bob Cargill

10 Ways a Personal Brand on Social Media Helps the Corporate Brand Behind It

Branding, Business, Marketing, Social Media
No one can say that there aren’t many benefits of having a strong personal brand on social media. After all, your LinkedIn profile is where practically everyone goes to check you out if they’re considering doing business with you in any way, shape or form. If you have a few presentations uploaded to SlideShare, a few dozen posts published on a blog and a few hundred followers on Twitter, even better. Using social media to showcase your background, skills, talent and expertise is a no-brainer. But the benefits of personal branding on social media aren’t limited to the owner of that brand only. Everyone around those who are prevalent and popular online, the “corporate all-stars” of the business world, as Edelman’s Steve Rubel so astutely labelled them in 2009, enjoys…
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29Apr 2016 by Bob Cargill

The Importance of Being Yourself on Social Media

Branding, Marketing, Social Media
Back in the day, when I was a member of Toastmasters, a public speaking and leadership organization, I was fortunate enough to be asked to be president of a local club. I was honored, of course, but I had no idea what the role entailed. Besides being briefed on the many responsibilities that came along with being the head honcho, I needed some advice, some good, old-fashioned words of wisdom. Just be yourself, I was told. There is no need to overthink it. That’s what I learned at that time about being a leader and speaking in public. And that’s what I’ve learned ever since then about communicating on social media. Don’t put on an act. Just keep it real. After all, the path to success, or at least a…
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25Mar 2016 by Bob Cargill

10 Ways Brands are Using Social Media for Good

Branding, Cause-Related Marketing, Marketing, Nonprofits, Social Media
Asking questions. Running contests. Sharing pictures. Promoting products and services. There are many ways for brands to attract attention on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the like. Included among this list of ways to get people to sit up and take notice on social media is to show the softer side of your brand and declare your support of a worthy charitable organization. After all, almost everyone on these channels is trying to sell something, whether it’s a product, service or simply themselves. Almost everyone is like the carnival barker cajoling the passersby to step right up and come inside the tent. But a small percentage of them are associating their brands with a noble cause, giving those in the audience a reason to feel good about making the decision to…
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28Feb 2016 by Bob Cargill

10 Ways the Presidential Candidates are Winning on Twitter

Marketing, Social Media, Twitter
There are less than two months to go until the Iowa caucuses and less than a year until we elect a new president of the United States on November 8, 2016. And while each of the candidates for the highest office in the land is more than competent and capable, there will only be one winner at the polls. To some of us, however, what happens between now and then is just as interesting as voting day itself. Who doesn’t enjoy sitting on the sidelines and watching a good, old-fashioned, knock-down, drag-out presidential campaign, especially in this digital day and age? The candidates may be crisscrossing the country on what seems like an endless campaign trail, but they are also sharing news and opinion, commentary, quips and barbs across the…
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24Jan 2016 by Bob Cargill

Social Media: A Revolutionary Change That is Impossible to Ignore

Business, Marketing, Social Media
I’m not going to lie. While I have been writing copy for what seems like forever, not until social media came along did I feel my words were actually making a connection with my audience. Direct mail, even email, may be addressed to your customers, donors, members and prospects by name. But short of face-to-face conversations, there is nothing quite so powerful and promising for a marketer than having the opportunity to interact in real time with someone who is genuinely interested in what you have to offer. Social media makes it possible for brands – and their proxies like me – to connect with members of their target audience directly and instantaneously, building strong, mutually beneficial relationships that have the potential to last indefinitely. Of course, to traditionalists, luddites,…
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26Dec 2015 by Bob Cargill

10 B2B Brands That Are Killing It on Social Media

Branding, Business, Marketing, Social Media
Social media. It’s not just for B2C brands anymore. More than just dipping their toes in the social media waters, many of those in the B2B space are now diving in head first, making a big splash not just on LinkedIn, but on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and pretty much every other related channel. Like everyone else, of course, they’re publishing the requisite stream of news and information. But more and more of them are beginning to resemble their counterparts on the B2C side, going above and beyond to express their opinions, let their hair down and reveal the personalities behind the brands. But don’t take my word for it. See for yourself. Here are 10 examples of B2B brands that are killing it on social media. 1. IBM on Twitter…
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13Sep 2015 by Bob Cargill

10 Ways to Find Common Ground with Your Social Media Audience

Marketing, Social Media
True story. I was having lunch with a colleague of mine a couple years ago or so, and as I began to take pictures of the food on my plate he asked me why I would do such a thing. I explained to him that food was a huge draw on social media, and that the restaurant where we were eating might reply to me if I tweeted about it, as might my followers. I was as convinced then as I am now that it’s a myth that no one on social media cares what you’re eating for lunch. After all, everybody likes food. While there’s an art and a science to success on social media, there’s also a certain psychology of which brands should take note. If you can…
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