For the past nearly 3 years, I’ve been in charge of Audience Development for one of the largest media companies in the US. I learned a LOT during that time. Even more important, I learned a lot about what NOT to do. Not all of these things were personal ‘mistakes’ per se. Some were top down decisions that were influenced by lack of foresight, knowledge or budget. Others were due to an industry that is undergoing rapid change. As John Powell said, “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” To that end, here are the top … [Read more...]
Is your employee advocacy program optimized for performance?
Employee advocacy can give your brand a social media boost When it comes to brand awareness and audience acquisition, managing a coordinated posse of advocates is essential. You need a viable base of people loyal to your brand who are willing to share your content and post about how awesome your products are. There’s simply no better way, other than advertising, to maximize your brand’s reach on social media. Sure, niche-relevant influencers and your community of customers are the obvious answers, but your own workforce is a great resource too. Employees … [Read more...]
Top social media changes this week
Social media essentials: Facebook Watch, Instagram and Facebook to be redesigned for readability, and WhatsApp set to allow money transfers There haven't been many platform changes in social this week (August is a quiet month typically), but these are the top ones we've seen announced, plus our top tips to help with your social media marketing strategy. Spotlight story: Facebook are launching 'Watch' a new video platform Facebook has introduced a hub for original video content called 'Watch'. According to Techcrunch, Watch will allow you to view personalized … [Read more...]
The Ten Commandments of Leveraging Social Media for Content Marketing
Content marketing and social media marketing are like muffins and cupcakes. You make them similarly, the desired effect is similar, and yet—it requires a special recipe … [Read more...]
What is influencer marketing and how can you improve it?
New report download - the Definitive Practical Guide to Influencer Relationship Management Influencer marketing has grown in importance in recent years as the popularity of content marketing has grown. Influencer marketing is an exciting strategy with “84% of marketers worldwide saying they would launch at least one influencer campaign within the next 12 months” according to eMarketer For the lack of a better analogy, if influencer marketing were to take human form, it would be an awkward just post-pubescent teenager. It’s growing up yet not … [Read more...]
Scale 1:1 Engagement with Facebook Messenger Chatbots
Facebook chatbots have changed the way consumers and brands interact on the world’s largest social platform. Today, over 100,000 bots are being used on Facebook Messenger to collect information, make product recommendations, take orders and even for social good. That’s why we are excited to announce that Sprout Social’s Bot Builder now supports the ability to set up, operate and manage chatbots within Facebook Messenger. Research shows that chatbots on Facebook Messenger can increase employee productivity by 3.5x. The potential impact for Sprout … [Read more...]
30+ Free Instagram Tools to Help You Grow Your Following
More than 700 million people use Instagram and 400 million of those users check the app daily. With such a large audience, and some incredibly business friendly updates such as Instagram Ads, Stories, and Business Tools, Instagram is becoming a must-have channel in many social media marketing strategies. So how can you stand out from the crowd and grow your Instagram following? We’ve previously shared proven tactics for growing your following and easy ways to increase your organic reach. And this time, we would love to share a big list of free Instagram … [Read more...]
Customize Your Profile & Network Reports With Report Builder
Agencies know proving value to their clients is important, and with 80% of companies outsourcing all or part of their social media marketing tactics, that’s a big job. At Sprout, we understand the needs and nuances of agencies and we’re here to provide a solution. We recently launched the Agency Partner Program, and now we’ve released a reporting feature agencies need: Report Builder. Report Builder, available to Agency Partner Program participants and included with Sprout’s Enterprise plan, provides agencies and brands with tools to create … [Read more...]
The Conversion Rate Conundrum: Common Mistakes and What to Do Instead
In real estate, the axiom is location, location, location. It’s first and foremost. The number one consideration. For your digital efforts – email, web pages, eCommerce platforms – an argument could be made for a few different ones: search engine optimization (SEO), the user experience (UX), conversion rate optimization (CRO), or perhaps something else entirely. Ask five experts and you’ll probably end up with five different answers. But what’s really the end goal? Why are you doing whatever it is you’re doing? Conversion, … [Read more...]
Social Media Manager vs. Community Manager: What’s the Difference?
Pop quiz: who matters most when it comes to your social presence? Your followers? The folks whose attention you’re trying to grab? The people sharing your stuff? Sure, those people are important. But what if it was the people working behind the scenes that represent the real game-changers? Think about it. Social media has become the go-to channel for customer care, content curation and branding for modern businesses. There’s a reason why keen attention to detail to your company’s social accounts is a top priority. As a result, social media … [Read more...]