My viewpoint of social media has changed in that it is not a big scrambled mess of random crazy keystrokes. And that everyone can be reached through some aspect of social media. Also, whatever social media is today, it very likely will be different tomorrow and I can learn and change with it.
I have a much better understanding of not only how to use it, but how it can be leverage to grow a business. Also, how social media directly affects SEO, and how email marketing fits into the growth of a business. Social media is more than a way to stay in the customer's face, but a way to make your customer feel like they know you personally and are your friend.
I always felt that a blog post was the most effective way to use social media for my business. But the blog is really only effective if my customer takes the time to read. Using Facebook is a great way to put an idea into the mind of a customer ( through life quotes) without them putting in any real effort.
A service that I would use is email marketing. If a great email can be created that is quick to read and offers an introduction the information on the website or YouTube, I think that would drive the most traffic.
I am still fascinated by Twitter. It is all about timing and being knowledgeable on current events and trends. Still don't know how to integrate it in a way that is more than just place to post the same stuff across multiple sites. But in time I think I will find a path on Twitter that will work.
Friday, December 16, 2016
Week 15A
The social media platforms that are best for Pepper Dare are Facebook for sharing content, blog posts, and YouTube.
I enjoyed the blogs very much, but I think YouTube would be fun. It takes more work, since getting the visual aspect right is a new challenge, but I think it is the best way to get a clear message across. Also, it is another way to inject personality. Since the brand is based on a individual, having a video gives a voice and face to the brand.
On a daily use, Twitter comments or Facebook shares.
I believe the email marketing can be twice or once a week. Videos, about 2 to 3 a month max. It would harder to create more unless they were very simple and short.
Given the need for daily updates, and the amount of time needed to create content for a blog and video, at least one to three hours a day should be devoted to social media.
Using Google Calendar, I would start with just Facebook posts and create content for the week ahead. Then begin a plan for a video. I would plot out a weekly blog post, then use the responses for content for further Facebook posts and for the video. For example, if I get a lot of questions and chatter over profile pictures, I would write a blog post on creating the perfect photo. And I would direct the customer to my webpage for offers of photo editing. Over the next 6 months I would use information from social media conversations with customers to create a path for the future.
I enjoyed the blogs very much, but I think YouTube would be fun. It takes more work, since getting the visual aspect right is a new challenge, but I think it is the best way to get a clear message across. Also, it is another way to inject personality. Since the brand is based on a individual, having a video gives a voice and face to the brand.
On a daily use, Twitter comments or Facebook shares.
I believe the email marketing can be twice or once a week. Videos, about 2 to 3 a month max. It would harder to create more unless they were very simple and short.
Given the need for daily updates, and the amount of time needed to create content for a blog and video, at least one to three hours a day should be devoted to social media.
Using Google Calendar, I would start with just Facebook posts and create content for the week ahead. Then begin a plan for a video. I would plot out a weekly blog post, then use the responses for content for further Facebook posts and for the video. For example, if I get a lot of questions and chatter over profile pictures, I would write a blog post on creating the perfect photo. And I would direct the customer to my webpage for offers of photo editing. Over the next 6 months I would use information from social media conversations with customers to create a path for the future.
Monday, December 12, 2016
Week 14B - Facebook Anayltics - What has changed this past week.
I got my 30 Likes. Hooray.
So, what has changed this past week? Pretty much just Page Views and Likes.
This past week, the Views and Likes have jumped. Since Pepper Dare is not a real business, I have not added too much to the Facebook Page, therefore the Actions on Page and Reach has no data to show. It is pretty clear that the sole source for my activity is from claudiafaulkdesign.com and a few from Facebook. If this were a real business, I would make sure to keep up with the sources of page views. I have no Age and Gender information, although that would be important to me if the business was real.
So, what has changed this past week? Pretty much just Page Views and Likes.
This past week, the Views and Likes have jumped. Since Pepper Dare is not a real business, I have not added too much to the Facebook Page, therefore the Actions on Page and Reach has no data to show. It is pretty clear that the sole source for my activity is from claudiafaulkdesign.com and a few from Facebook. If this were a real business, I would make sure to keep up with the sources of page views. I have no Age and Gender information, although that would be important to me if the business was real.
Week 14A - Google Analytics
Google Analytics is fantastic. So much information on customer behavior insight and website performance that it can be overwhelming at first. Some of the features are best suited while I am trying to get the business running, helping me understand who my customer is and what works and what doesn't. Then once I start a campaign and paying for ads, the features that help analyze the effectiveness of those campaigns will be where I put my focus.
At first, Pepper Dare is still trying to understand the behavior of the typical customer, and the Intelligence feature would be the first thing I would set up. I would set the alerts I need, checking on it most likely daily to make sure they are actually valuable.
The Real Time feature would be great to check frequently on the days a new post is made.
The Audience feature/Demographics is the best way to understand who is using my site, making sure I am offering the right service - especially in terms of gender and age analytics.
The Behavior feature should be checked bi-weekly to let me know if my message is valuable to my audience.
The User Explorer feature could probably take over my life.
The Technology and Mobile features are great to check on a bi-weekly basis, letting me know if my website is designed appropriately.
The Acquisition feature is essential to understanding if my email marketing is effective. I would check it the day of and the following day after an email is sent to see if the message was effective.
At first, Pepper Dare is still trying to understand the behavior of the typical customer, and the Intelligence feature would be the first thing I would set up. I would set the alerts I need, checking on it most likely daily to make sure they are actually valuable.
The Real Time feature would be great to check frequently on the days a new post is made.
The Audience feature/Demographics is the best way to understand who is using my site, making sure I am offering the right service - especially in terms of gender and age analytics.
The Behavior feature should be checked bi-weekly to let me know if my message is valuable to my audience.
The User Explorer feature could probably take over my life.
The Technology and Mobile features are great to check on a bi-weekly basis, letting me know if my website is designed appropriately.
The Acquisition feature is essential to understanding if my email marketing is effective. I would check it the day of and the following day after an email is sent to see if the message was effective.
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Week 13 - Create an Ad
The advertisements are for a fictitious business.
The objective of the ads are to offer information in small chunks to earn my customer's trust as a resource. Most ads I make should lead to my blog and YouTube channel so that they look to my social media links for information. From this I will hopefully go up in a Google search and will become a favorite for my customers when looking for answers about online dating. Another objective of the ads are to get my customer to go to my website to make a purchase.
One of the most used and effective videos and blogger ads are top ten lists. For Pepper Dare, that would include topics like - dating do's and don'ts, top ten keywords to put in a profile, or best 5 types of images to use in a profile, etc. However, I wanted to start by focusing on one of the biggest issues people are faced with when dating online, and that is writing an effective profile and email. Everyone I have spoken to has used a Google search about writing a profile. Writing about ourselves and initiating contact without sounding contrived is challenging for just about everyone. I see it as an opportunity to bring in interest and revenue.
Having my customer watch the video on Facebook's site is good, but the main goal is to get them to click through to the YouTube link and see all videos offered in my channel. Some of those may have 3rd party ads if I need to generate additional revenue.
Below is the link to the video ad on Facebook. If this were a real business, the video would contain footage of me speaking in addition to still images and text explaining how to create an effective email. I also kept it very short for ease of viewing for my class. My goal would be to keep the video under 3 minutes with a call to action for them to subscribe to my channel, or visit my blog, website, and Facebook page to learn more information.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWUYiDOeep0
Facebook frowns upon too much text in an Ad. I tried to keep it to the amount of image text to low so to not reduce the reach of the Ad.
Next, a Facebook offer claim with 20% off professional profile review. The goal is to get the customer to stop waiting and jump in with a low risk purchase. (The pepperdare.com website does not exist).
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Week 12 - Advertising on Social Media
It's funny how ads on Facebook Ads slowly crept onto my page. When I first started noticing them (are we talking a few years ago at this point?) I spent at least an hour researching how to remove them. I was sure it was due to spam wear on my computer or something similar. But I found out that they were legit and were Facebook's way of making money. Go figure. Facebook was finally coming out of it's adolescence and looking to earn a living.
Dating is one of those areas in life that is very personal and something we compartmentalize to keep separate from the rest of our lives until we feel secure. If banner ads or side ads show up on their Facebook page, my customer may see it as an invasion of privacy.
We each think we are unique in what we go through. I don't expect anyone to give me a leap of faith and pay to follow my advice. The only way for me to draw in customers is for advertisements to offer empathy and insight. It's not until I've shown my understanding of their views that they will accept my service. In other words, my target audience has to see my value and consider me a partner that they invite into their lives.
The best way to do that is through life quotes images on Instagram and Facebook, and videos posted as ads on Facebook with click though for more information. Still not sure if Twitter will reach my target audience. Or Instagram for that matter, but it is worth a try. At the very least, it may improve SEO ranking.
As for frequency, dating is like buying a car. You are oblivious about car ads until you want a car. Then finding the right car becomes an obsession. I would need to post a life quote at the very least daily. And a video once to twice a week. I need to be there when my customer is ready.
Dating is one of those areas in life that is very personal and something we compartmentalize to keep separate from the rest of our lives until we feel secure. If banner ads or side ads show up on their Facebook page, my customer may see it as an invasion of privacy.
We each think we are unique in what we go through. I don't expect anyone to give me a leap of faith and pay to follow my advice. The only way for me to draw in customers is for advertisements to offer empathy and insight. It's not until I've shown my understanding of their views that they will accept my service. In other words, my target audience has to see my value and consider me a partner that they invite into their lives.
The best way to do that is through life quotes images on Instagram and Facebook, and videos posted as ads on Facebook with click though for more information. Still not sure if Twitter will reach my target audience. Or Instagram for that matter, but it is worth a try. At the very least, it may improve SEO ranking.
As for frequency, dating is like buying a car. You are oblivious about car ads until you want a car. Then finding the right car becomes an obsession. I would need to post a life quote at the very least daily. And a video once to twice a week. I need to be there when my customer is ready.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Week 10 - blog comments
I commented on the insightful blogs of:
Antiono Russo / Yellow Circle - Blue square company
https://bluesquareco.blogspot.com/
Luellen Raymor / DIY4BIZ - Crafting Social Maxine Raven
http://craftingsocial.blogspot.com/
Kendall Holmes - Carlsbad Counseling Center
http://kendallscsit155.blogspot.com/2016/11/constant-contact-with-emails-week-10.html#comment-form
In addition to my Quiet Woman blog, my other blog and social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pepperdare ( has a little bit of content )
Blogspot (Pepper Dare): http://pepperraedare.blogspot.com/ ( has one post )
Twitter: http://pepperraedare.blogspot.com/ (no posts)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2vSSovzJO4zuaQUv0nE7uQ (no videos posted yet)
Antiono Russo / Yellow Circle - Blue square company
https://bluesquareco.blogspot.com/
Luellen Raymor / DIY4BIZ - Crafting Social Maxine Raven
http://craftingsocial.blogspot.com/
Kendall Holmes - Carlsbad Counseling Center
http://kendallscsit155.blogspot.com/2016/11/constant-contact-with-emails-week-10.html#comment-form
In addition to my Quiet Woman blog, my other blog and social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pepperdare ( has a little bit of content )
Blogspot (Pepper Dare): http://pepperraedare.blogspot.com/ ( has one post )
Twitter: http://pepperraedare.blogspot.com/ (no posts)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2vSSovzJO4zuaQUv0nE7uQ (no videos posted yet)
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