The Importance of Integrating Social Media Marketing

Social networking, via popular sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and YouTube has evolved from peer-to-peer interactions to becoming a viable relationship building tool for businesses of all sizes. In fact, Facebook alone boasts an astounding 845 million active users worldwide; further, the site accounts for one of every five page-views on the Internet worldwide. Collectively, Facebook users share more than 100 billion connections. In the United States alone, over 150 million users log onto their accounts daily.

With numbers like this, social media as a whole (and Facebook in particular) is too powerful a resource for business owners to fail in developing a social media strategy to connect to their customers and potential customers. By engaging customers in meaningful interactions, businesses can effectively increase customer loyalty while providing a platform for valuable feedback to help you to better serve your customers.

For instance, savvy business owners have taken to Twitter as a tool for both promotions and for answering customer complaints in real-time. YouTube nets 4 billion page views daily and has attracted business owners to this free advertising platform. Moreover, Facebook has now given business owners the flexibility of coupon marketing and special promotions to a target audience.

So how do you go about integrating social media into your business marketing strategy? One of the best ways to get started is by establishing a Facebook Page. The personal profile page that many commonly refer to is simply for individuals who wish to use the free site to connect with friends, family and companies they are interested in. However, as a business owner, to comply with Facebook’s Terms of Service, you must establish a Facebook Page (a simple process that is also free to use) to maintain your company’s professional presence on the site.

Among the Facebook Fan Page’s biggest advantages is the ability to connect with an unlimited number of fans on the site. With a mere profile page, an individual is limited to 5,000 “friends.” Establishing a Fan Page will also enable you to assign admins to maintain your account, so you can designate one person (or a group of people) to routinely update your Fan Page to keep fans engaged and coming back to the site.

Before you begin to engage customers, it’s important to define your marketing strategy to get the most from your social media efforts. Determine who your customer is, when and how they want to interact with you, and what calls to action you want to present through this platform. Regardless of the social media outlet you choose, your goal will be to relate more personally to your customers. Keep in mind that people want to do business with other people. While customers are interested in your sales promotions, they are likely to have more loyalty to businesses they feel more personally connected to. Perhaps, then, you could share business-related photos or videos, special discounts or exclusive content. Maybe you could invite Fans to a special event, to use a special

Article source: http://www.business2community.com/social-media/the-importance-of-integrating-social-media-marketing-0171531

ViSalus(TM) Shatters Direct Sales Industry Top 100 Company List; Enters List …

LOS ANGELES, April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
ViSalus, the number one challenge marketing company with its Body by Vi(TM) 90-Day Challenge, broke into the Direct Sales Industry Top 100 Global Companies List at #47. As a result, ViSalus was awarded the prestigious DSN Bravo Growth Award by top industry trade Direct Selling News for its seven-fold sales increase over the past 12 months. The award was presented to ViSalus Founders Ryan Blair, Nick Sarnicola and Blake Mallen at the Direct Selling News Global 100 Celebration held in Dallas on April 16.

“We are humbled that the Direct Selling Industry has recognized ViSalus’ innovative customer centric approach,” stated Ryan Blair, Chief Executive Officer of ViSalus.

“With today’s social sphere, it’s amazing how quickly a simple message that brings real value to a consumer can spread,” continued Blake Mallen, Chief Marketing Officer. “I’m very proud of our ViSalus Community.”

Since 2010, the annual Bravo Growth Award has been honoring the company that reported the greatest sales increase during the prior 12 months. The winner is selected by the leadership of Direct Selling News based on the data compiled for the year. In 2011, ViSalus achieved net sales of $231 million, seven times its 2010 earnings of $34 million.

“This is an honor well-deserved and a testament to the leadership team at ViSalus,” said John Fleming, Publisher of Direct Selling News. “Ryan and Blake have shown over the past two years a strong commitment to their employees, sales associates and customers, and it shows in the great success they have achieved.”

Launched originally in 2005 as ViSalus Sciences and known today as ViSalus, the company remains resolute on its mission to improve “Life, Health, and Prosperity”–through network marketing, premium wellness products, and a global community culture. ViSalus champions a range of personal health goals through five unique Challenge Kits designed to support individual milestones toward healthier living. The company’s recent acquisition of the domain “challenge.com” emphasizes its continued aggressive expansion in the challenge marketing space.

Learn more about ViSalus at
http://www.visalus.com and
http://www.bodybyvi.com .

About ViSalus

Founded in 2005 with headquarters in Los Angeles, CA and Troy, MI, ViSalus(TM) is the company behind the wildly successful Body by Vi(TM) Challenge, a 90-day lifestyle transformation platform. ViSalus champions personal victories and entrepreneurship through a social marketing model, premium products, and global community culture. Simple, Rewarding Fun–the Body by Vi Challenge is the fastest growing health and fitness Challenge in North America today. ViSalus(TM) is majority-owned by Blyth, Inc.

About Direct Selling News

Direct Selling News magazine has been serving direct selling and network marketing executives since 2004. It is a controlled-circulation, print magazine sent to executives throughout the industry. The contents of each publication are posted online along with up-to-date headline news of major happenings within the industry, both domestically and globally. For more information, visit
www.directsellingnews.com

Article source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/visalustm-shatters-direct-sales-industry-top-100-company-list-enters-list-at-47-2012-04-30

Tim Tebow New York Jets top 100 players

Tim Tebow fans are apparently right. Tebow, backup quarterback for the New York Jets, really is one of the NFL’s finest players.

The smoking gun is an NFL Network poll. It wasn’t based on fan voting, so we can’t automatically laugh it off. It was based on votes by real live (we think) NFL players.

Mark Sanchez, left, couldn’t beat Tim Tebow last season. And according to an NFL poll, Tebow is the superior player — even though he’ll be Sanchez’s backup. (AP Photo)

On the list of the league’s top 100 players, they pegged Tebow at No. 95.

Sorry, but it’s still a laugh riot.

The voting supposedly wasn’t based on popularity or Saturday Night Live references or Sunday morning sermons. It was based on skill and performance.

In a quarterback’s case, that means being able to throw a pass without hitting the popcorn vendor in Aisle 39.

If that description of Tebow’s ability gets you fired up, it just proves the NFL Network’s marketing scheme is working. The network comes out with a top 100 every year, hoping to generate buzz in the post-draft lull.

Isn’t it amazing how the most polarizing player in modern NFL history happened to squeeze into this year’s conversation?

I’m not saying the outcome was rigged. But we really need tougher voter-ID laws when hundreds of Denver fans can show up at NFL polling places and pass themselves off as Ray Lewis.

“There are so many great players in the NFL,” Tebow said. “For just a few of them to respect me enough to put me on this list means a lot.”

We’re not sure how many actually voted this election cycle. Last year, 413 players voted out of a 1,696 who were theoretically eligible.

— Catcalls for Sanchez | Eli Manning’s lament | Tebow on Most Influential list

Some players said they never heard about the voting or didn’t want to bother. The rest presumably didn’t want to be associated with a poll that had 12 quarterbacks ahead of Eli Manning.

Manning, starting quarterback for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, didn’t even make last year’s top 100. Sources confirm that Eli made it this year, but we won’t know for sure for a few more days.

The NFL Network milks the poll by releasing 10 players at

Article source: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-04-30/tim-tebow-new-york-jets-top-100-players

Personal Income Rises More than Expected

Personal Income calculates the pre-tax income households collect from employment, investments, and other payments. The impact on equity markets is subdued. However, the data is still functional in gauging the ability of consumers to spend residual income, as increasing

Personal Income allows for buoyant consumers spending. Also, as consumers make up two-thirds of US GDP, increasing consumer incomes theoretically should drive strong growth in the US economy.

Personal income increased $50.3 billion, or 0.4 percent in March, which was higher than the 0.3 percent estimate.

Disposable personal income increased $42.5 billion, or 0.4 percent, in March, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Real disposable income increased 0.2 percent in March, in contrast to a decrease of 0.1 percent in February. Real PCE increased 0.1 percent, compared with an increase of 0.5 percent.

Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $29.6 billion, or 0.3 percent. In February, personal income increased $39.6 billion, or 0.3 percent, DPI increased $29.4 billion, or 0.2 percent, and PCE increased $93.7 billion, or 0.9 percent, based on revised estimates.

ACTION ITEMS:

Bullish:
Traders who believe that Personal Income is a leading indicator for the US economy, you might want to consider the following trades:

Long general retail companies like JC Pennny (NYSE: JCP) because as more people have increasing incomes, the more likely people will spend it. In theory, the economy will likely grow stronger, as consumer spending is two-thirds of US GDP.

Also, long Consumer Discretionary companies like Target (NYSE: TGT) or the Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSE: XLY)

Bearish:
Traders who believe that Personal Income is not a leading indicator for the US economy, you might want to consider the following trades:

If the data is showing mixed signals, long Consumer Staple companies like Procter Gamble (NYSE: PG) and Colgate (NYSE: CL) because even if people have less money, they still need to buy staple products like shampoo and toothpaste.

Also, short big-ticket appliance makers like Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR) if Personal Income worse-than-expected.

Neither Benzinga nor its staff recommend that you buy, sell, or hold any security. We do not offer investment advice, personalized or otherwise. Benzinga recommends that you conduct your own due diligence and consult a certified financial professional for personalized advice about your financial situation.

Article source: http://www.benzinga.com/news/12/04/2540401/personal-income-rises-more-than-expected

2012 "Ditch Digital Dabbling" Survey Reveals the Most Effective Online …

NEW YORK, April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
A new survey report released today, Ditch Digital Dabbling: How Small Businesses and Nonprofits Can Master Online Marketing, revealed the “magic number” of hours required to make social media marketing a success. According to the report, it takes a minimum of 25 hours per week to see worthwhile results from social media efforts – insight that has long eluded small businesses and nonprofits struggling to find the right market mix in today’s digital economy. Now available at
www.DitchDigitalDabbling.com , the report aggregates responses from small businesses and nonprofits in many sectors including women-owned, minority-owned, and socially responsible.

A joint research project by Message Medium and Ventureneer, the Ditch Digital Dabbling survey definitively outlines the online marketing tactics that work best and highlights new revelations, including the fact that “Power Users” rate only 5 social media tools as very effective.

“While many small businesses and nonprofits market online, very few have a firm grasp of the strategies, tactics, and tools to do it well in spite of the overload of how-to information,” explained Message Medium president Maisha Walker. “Rather than adding to the noise, we wanted to share real-world insights and success stories, gleaned from their peers who were facing similar challenges.”

By showing which online marketing and social media strategies have and haven’t worked, the survey results act as a research-driven road-map to saving small businesses time and money when putting together their own marketing plans.

“The survey confirms that you can’t get the best results from online marketing programs unless you know how to effectively measure whether you’re achieving your goals or not,” commented Ventureneer president Geri Stengel. “While we found that a majority of companies attempt to measure performance, they don’t understand what actually works. The concept of trying, measuring, and tweaking — almost in real time — is new, but it’s as critical to effectiveness as is time spent.”

The Ditch Digital Dabbling Executive Summary is available for free download, in addition to the comprehensive report with in-depth case studies, detailed survey figures, and more, visit
www.DitchDigitalDabbling.com .

About Message Medium

Message Medium helps new brands to harness the power of the Internet through renowned training classes, cutting edge research, designing profitable Web sites, and launching successful Internet marketing campaigns. Agency founder and president Maisha Walker is a Columnist for Inc. magazine and frequent speaker on Internet marketing strategy.

About Ventureneer

Ventureneer is a media, marketing, and research company that helps corporations build meaningful relationships with small businesses. We create content-marketing — research, social media, articles, in-person events, case studies, e-newsletters, webinars, microsites, white papers, etc. — for corporations, taking their small business and nonprofit customers from brand awareness to brand evangelists.

SOURCE DitchDigitalDabbling.com

Article source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/2012-ditch-digital-dabbling-survey-reveals-the-most-effective-online-marketing-tools-and-strategies-for-small-businesses-and-nonprofits-2012-04-30

Study Shows Social Media Marketing Management is Haphazard at Best

A surprising number of people are still confused about social media marketing. They know it’s on trend and that it’s probably good for business but logistically, it’s still a bit of a mystery for most.

EPiServer recently surveyed 250 UK marketing decision makers and their thoughts on social media marketing were all over the board. On the upside, 77% of them said they were running some kind of online community and 35% said they’ve been using social media for more than a year.

Of those with a social media marketing strategy, 30% said it’s increased their customer loyalty, 25% said it increased web traffic and 21% said they saw a direct increase in sales. Bravo. But only 1 in 10 said they had an effective means of measuring the benefits and that’s crazy.

Imagine going to a basketball game without baskets. No means of scoring. The two teams just manipulate the ball up and down the court for two hours then everyone in the stands randomly decides which team won. How is that any different from guessing whether your social media marketing is working or not?

Let’s look at a few more stats from the study.

The average marketer spends an hour a day on social media but less than half (45%) said they monitor their own communities and blogs. You could read that two ways. It could mean that the majority of marketers don’t monitor at all, or it could mean that they have an outside person to do it. Probably somewhere in between given that 40% of those surveyed said they don’t have a dedicated social media person.

So who is running the social media show?

22% of companies already have a social media or community manager
28% of social media activities are run by a marketing executive
14% by a PR executive
16% by the IT manager

The IT manager? Is that because some people see social media as being “techy” so we throw the job to the IT guys? That’s proof that at least 16% of companies have no idea what social media marketing is all about.

EPiServer says that many companies are overwhelmed by the entire process. Only 24% of those surveyed use one platform to update multiple accounts. Only 6% had their social media results centralized. That means that the majority are processing Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc. individually, by logging in and out of each account to perform updates. Yeah, that’s time consuming and brain consuming, I get it. Then, you start adding in every service that’s on trend – Pinterest, Google+, Tumblr – and it’s no wonder that 52% of companies have had to increase the time they spend on social media.

I’m not against more time spent. What I’m against is time wasted. Rushing to Pinterest with your interior design company makes sense. Rushing to Pinterest with your auto parts company, not so much. And even though I frown upon simply pasting the same social media update into every profile you own, some cross-over

Article source: http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2012/04/study-shows-social-media-marketing-management-is-haphazard-at-best.html

Los Angeles SEO Firm, Avital Web, is now Offering Affordable and Customized …

LOS ANGELES, April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
Running a successful dental practice is often an act of balancing time and resources as much as it is creating beautiful and healthy smiles. This is especially true for marketing and advertising, key components of maintaining manageable growth and keeping ahead of the competition. This has led many to begin looking for SEO services that build a positive online presence that draws in traffic and converts them into patients. In order to make this process as efficient as possible, Los Angeles SEO firm, Avital Web, is now offering affordable and customized packages for all dental practices. Visit SEOCompanyCA.com to learn more about these packages.

Dental internet marketing is unlike any other industry or medical practice in the world. Not only must web pages remain informative for patients and put them at ease before they ever make that first call, they must also be as robust and comprehensive as possible in order to achieve high rankings with all of the major search engines.

While the average SEO consulting firm may only offer pre-made packages, Avital Web is now offering comprehensive website SEO that begins with web design for those that need it and ends with new patients walking in the door. As the most trusted SEO company in Southern California, Avital Web offers a full line of services including blog marketing, link building, social network marketing, PPC management, web design, press releases, and more. Many are finding that dental marketing no longer needs to be an expensive and cumbersome hassle with inefficient, pre-fabricated SEO packages.

Those that would like to bring in new patients without breaking their marketing budget are turning to Avital Web in increasing numbers to produce attractive and high ranking websites that are going to make every dollar count.

About the Company

Avital Web has created its unparalleled reputation by devoting an overwhelming amount of time and energy into every single client. Their team of SEO specialists is there to design and implement websites from start to finish with a full line of services including web design, blog management, link building, social network marketing, and more.

Visit
http://www.seocompanyca.com or call (877) 971-7177 for more information about their dental marketing packages.

SOURCE Avital Web

Article source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/los-angeles-seo-firm-avital-web-is-now-offering-affordable-and-customized-dental-marketing-packages-to-all-clients-2012-04-30

Abu Dhabi’s Sorouh Q1 net profit up 30pct

Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:24am EDT

* Sorouh Q1 net profit 83.6 mln dirhams vs 64.3 mln dirhams

* Capex at 1.8 bln dirhams for 2012, Q1 spend 650 mln
dirhams

* Says merger talks with Aldar Properties ongoing

* Firm plans to deliver 9,300 units by end 2013

(Adds conference call, share price)

By Stanley Carvalho

ABU DHABI, April 29 – Abu Dhabi’s Sorouh Real Estate
, which is in merger talks with larger rival Aldar
Properties, posted a 30 percent rise in quarterly
profits on Sunday, adding to a string of higher earnings from
UAE property firms in recent days.

Sorouh, the second largest property developer by market
value in Abu Dhabi, reported first-quarter net profit of 83.6
million dirhams ($22.76 million), compared with 64.3 million
dirhams in the prior-year period

The results missed four analysts’ forecasts for average
profit of 87.83 million dirhams, according to a Reuters poll.

Sorouh shares were up 0.88 percent on the Abu Dhabi bourse
at 0824 GMT.

Quarterly revenue doubled to 967.2 million dirhams, with
revenue from national housing projects generating 62 million
dirhams in gross profit for the quarter. The developer said it
was on track to reach its target of 500 million dirhams of
recurring income by 2014.

“We spent 650 million dirhams on work-in-progress in the
first quarter and capex for 2012 remains the same,” Chief
Financial Officer Richard Amos said on a conference call.

“Our cash position is robust, we have no plans to raise
finance.”

Sorouh has previously said it plans 1.8 billion dirhams in
2012 capital expenditure. The firm’s cash balance at the end of
the first quarter was 1.5 billion dirhams.

Sorouh, which entered into merger talks with Abu Dhabi’s
largest developer Aldar last month, said the talks are underway,
but did not give any further details.

“The evaluation process to look at the legal and business
aspects of a potential merger is now underway and the ultimate
outcome of this process will take into account the best
interests of shareholders,” the company said.

On Saturday, Aldar reported it had more than doubled its
first-quarter net profit on land and residential sales to the
government. Meanwhile, Dubai-based Emaar Properties
said net profit rose 44 pct, beating analysts’ forecasts.

Sorouh, whose developments include commercial and
residential projects, will deliver around 9,300 units by end
2013, Gurjit Singh, its chief operating officer, said on Sunday.
This includes 2,300 units under the national housing programme.

Abu Dhabi-based property firms have relied heavily on
government projects to rescue them from a property market slump
in the emirate.

Property prices in Abu Dhabi are expected to fall another 11
percent from here, a Reuters poll showed in January. Sorouh
shares were up 0.9 percent on the Abu Dhabi bourse at 0755 GMT
Sunday. They have risen 31 percent year-to-date.
($1 = 3.6730 UAE dirhams)

(Additional reporting by Praveen Menon in Dubai; Editing by
Dinesh Nair)

Article source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/29/sorouh-results-idUSL5E8FT01720120429

Aberdeen attracts high-margin work

IC VIEW:

Aberdeen continues to attract higher-margin work, cash flow is strong and profits are growing strongly. This not only supports a progressive dividend policy, but the shares offer value priced on 12 times next year’s earnings estimates. Long-term buy.

Last IC view: Good value, 214p, 5 Dec 2011

Article source: http://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/2012/04/30/shares/news-and-analysis/aberdeen-attracts-high-margin-work-G0Pyh0fs5SsjaoZsWJ6OrK/article.html

MetLife Inc. Earnings Call Nuggets: U.S. Earnings, Accidental and Health Business

On Friday, MetLife Inc (NYSE:MET) reported its first quarter earnings and discussed the following topics in its earnings conference call. Here’s what executives shared with analysts and investors.

U.S. Earnings

Thomas Gallagher – Credit Suisse: Just first had a sort of philosophical question on capital and then a specific earnings question. I guess the philosophical question is how you’re approaching the view required capital right now? I mean, it’s clearly in a bit of flux both for you all and the industry depending on different ways you might measure versus history, so just curious, how you would approach that, in particular how are you looking at that as part of you strategic review? Then just a question on the earnings side, I guess the U.S. earnings came in well above plan. How should we think about that as it relates to a run rate? It looks like to me it was a mix of strong investment spreads and good underwriting results. What’s your anticipation as to whether or not that’s going to be sustained for the balance of the year?

MetLife Inc. Earnings: Swing to a Loss After Two Straight Profit Quarters

Steven A. Kandarian – Chairman, President and CEO: As to capital, let me just start by saying that our philosophy about returning excess capital to shareholders remains intact. Having said that, we’ve lived most of our existence at MetLife under state regulatory regimes which have one set of rules for us. We now as you know as a bank holding company are regulated additionally by the Fed and there are different rules as a bank holding company which we’ve talked about with respect the Fed stress test we just went through. So that’s why my remarks we’re cautious in the sense of measuring all those trying to take in account this changing regulatory landscape that we currently face. We are de-banking. There is still the issue of whether MetLife and other insurers, large insurers may be designated by FSOC as a non-bank SIFI. So, all those factors are taken into consideration as we think about when and how to return capital to shareholders and as that landscape becomes clear to us and as we get through the bank, de-banking process, then we’ll have more say about that. So those things are still a moving target. To-date no one has been designated yet in non-bank SIFI, so we have to wait and see more on that and if you are designated as such the rules are at this point, not promulgated so it’s a difficult environment to operate from the point of view providing clarity and certainty to our shareholders this very moment about our capital plans. As to U.S. earning I’d simply say we had a very good Q1. Eric went through some details in it in terms of what drove those good earnings. As mentioned, we’re not changing our guidance. Obviously, the strong first quarter puts upward pressure within

Article source: http://wallstcheatsheet.com/stocks/metlife-inc-earnings-call-nuggets-u-s-earnings-accidental-and-health-business.html/

ResidualRx.com

Your Prescription For Building A Residual Income

Monthly Archives: April 2012