Posts Tagged ‘Google’

Guest Post: Effective Social Media Marketing by @Essince

Posted: February 23, 2012 by essince in Music101
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Social Media is all about a conversation.

Gone are the days where companies have one-sided conversations with their audience.

Gone are the days of “You like hip hop, buy this CD” and “If you have a family you need this van”.

Now it’s “What’s your favorite song on the album?” and  “Tell us your favorite feature in our new car on facebook”.

Well…it should be. I see too many people tweeting things like this “Yo, @Essince, check my new video! RT PLS! www.youtube.com/WhoCaresIDont”

If I click on your profile and see you sent that to 95 other people why would I want to watch? You don’t care about my opinion only a retweet not a comment or like or view.

If you did you would follow up to see if I saw it and you also wouldn’t ask everyone else who has a twitter page.

Also, why would I want to follow you?? Do I really need that filling up my timeline?

Would you walk up to me and throw your business card in my face and run away doing it to everyone on the sidewalk? No? Then why do it online?

Social media marketing is a whole new ballgame. Because it is still new and constantly changing be wary of people claiming to be experts at it but keep these simple tips in mind:

#1) Social Media Marketing is a CONVERSATION. Promote yourself but also engage in a conversation. Ask your fans/followers what they like? They’ll talk about it anyway, why not start the conversation?

#2) Do NOT SPAM!

#3) Tell us a little about YOU but don’t be boring or too personal. No one wants to see “I’m hungry” or “I’ve been throwing up all day”

#4) If you speak on behalf of a company don’t post as an individual. “We” not “I”.

#5) People don’t want to be talked to, then want to be spoken with.

#6) Just because you can delete a tweet or facebook post doesn’t erase it from having happened. Just because it’s a private message doesn’t mean it can’t be brought up in court.

#7) Be Professional! Just because I work in the urban music business and I speak in slang with my friends doesn’t mean you should talk to me in slang. This is a business.

I used some examples with music but these can be applied to all businesses. I hope these help give you a little more direction/guidance.

ABOUT ESSINCE

Essince

I  am an MC/blogger and founder of Royal Heir Entertainment which specializes in online marketing and music consulting.

I’ve been an artist for 14 years and have performed all over the US and have toured in Asia (Japan, Thailand, the Philippines).

I’ve worked as an event promoter & helped promote music conferences and contribute to various blogs throughout the world. I also have transcription credit on the DJ Vlad documentary, “Ghostride the Whip“.

For more information on visit my blog (Essince.com) and the Royal Heir Ent website. I’m on twitter and facebook and Google+

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Guest Post: 5 Tips to Build a Loyal Audience with Your Blog

Posted: February 14, 2012 by jdobypr in Music101
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Cendrine Marrouat

Cendrine Marrouat, Author, Journalist, Blogger

This is a guest post by Cendrine Marrouat, her bio is at the end of this article.

In this day and age, independent artists rely almost exclusively on Facebook and Twitter to reach global audiences. However, in so doing, they overlook other major platforms. One of them is blogging.

A blog is a great tool that, when used well, will increase public awareness of your work and help you build a loyal group of supporters. Here are five tips to get you started.

Tip #1: Know Your Niche

Let me start by asking you a few questions. Do you know who visits your blog? How old are they? Where do they live? How did they find your blog?

Answering these questions will help you determine who your audience is, and how interested it may be in the genre of music you make or the kind of books you write. This is what we call a “niche.”

To help you with that, use Google Analytics and / or Facebook Insights (for Facebook Fan Page owners). These free services will give you access to important metrics, such as the gender, age, locations, and languages spoken by your visitors.

Tip #2: Make Your Blog Interactive

Interactivity is a prerequisite to attract a loyal audience. An important rule is to allow visitors to access your content and connect with you where it is the most comfortable for them.

Here are three things that you should include on your blog:

  • Calls to Action – A call to action is a short sentence that tells visitors what they should do. For example: “Subscribe to our newsletter to get a free eBook“; “Check us out on Facebook”; “Click ‘like’ to access the page”; “Suggest to friends.” Your blog should display at least one call to action on each page / post.
  • Blog Subscription – People do not always have time to check blogs for new content. So, make things easier for them. Embed a subscribe form on your blog. Feedburner, for example, is a great service.

A Special Note about Auto Players…

A while ago, I visited the blog of an artist that someone had recommended me to check out. Upon landing on the home page, the loud music made me jump in my chair. As I could not find the player to stop the music, I left and never came back.

Visitors should not have to mute their speakers when landing on your blog. Disable the auto play function of your player to let them decide if they want to listen to your music and watch your videos, or not.

Tip #3: Do Not Overdo Self-Promotion

If you have a blog, you obviously should promote it. Share your articles (and news) on social networks (Facebook, Twitter and Google+), in relevant LinkedIn Groups, and on Scoop.it or Paper.li. You can also join Bloggers, one of the biggest and best communities and directories for bloggers in the world. And why not harness the power of a platform like Pinterest?

With that being said, avoid overdoing self-promotion. Keep it 80 / 20. This rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, states that 80 percent of your outcomes come from 20 percent of your inputs.

What does it mean for you?

  • 80 percent of your social media time should be about sharing compelling content from others and engaging followers.
  • 20 percent (or less) of the remaining time should be about promoting yourself.

Tip #4: Interact with Your Visitors

Visitors to your blog want to find content that speaks to them. They want to feel that you are paying attention to them.

Ask them questions in your articles. Encourage them to share their thoughts in the comment section.

And do not forget to mention the names of specific supporters and your favorite influencers once in a while.

Tip #5: Remember: It’s about Your Fans, Not You

After releasing six books and a CD, I can tell you one thing: Audiences do not care about artists. The only thing they really care about is if your music or book is entertaining enough. They want art that takes them away from their problems.

People will only buy your products if they can relate to your artistic story (a.k.a. your brand) and take part in it. A blog is the perfect platform for that. Use it to show your expertise, and make your unique voice and helpful side shine.

To build a loyal audience, you must make yourself indispensable, first. The rest will come in due time.

The tips in this article are adapted from Cendrine Marrouat’s The Little Big eBook on Blogging: 40 Traffic Generation Tips. This eBook will be available for purchase on March 6, 2012. For more information, click here.

 About Cendrine Marrouat

Cendrine Marrouat is a journalist, reviewer, blogger and author with nine years of experience in the freelance industry. Her articles have appeared in a number of websites and blogs, including Examiner.com and Digital Journal. She is also the founder of Creative Ramblings, a social media blog with a specific focus on entrepreneurs and independent artists.

For more information on Cendrine, visit www.cendrinemarrouat.com. You can also follow her on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.

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Tools for Internet Articles that Ensure they Live Longer than a Week!

Posted: February 11, 2012 by jdobypr in Media
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The IMP Log: The Very First Message Sent on th...

The IMP Log: The Very First Message Sent on the Internet (Photo credit: FastLizard4)

“The Internet is the information highway”, this phrase has been used so many times it should be nominated for the Internet Cliché Award. People that go to the Internet are subdivided into groups, but generally, they are out to search for information. Whether for gaming, business, fun or anything else, the Internet has provided us with information that has proved to be very beneficial.  One of the key elements of an Internet article is the “related articles” list at the bottom of the page.  This “related articles” section is actually a list of links to articles related to the one your reader is currently perusing. “Public Relations specialists who write article formatted pieces should pay special attention!” says Jerry Doby owner of Doby Communications, Inc., an entertainment industry PR firm.

Through the recent years many people have learned the secrets of Search Engine Optimization. More and more sites have seen the positive effects articles have provided for the traffic of their sites. Some have even created sites devoted entirely to providing articles that could be read by their website visitors and have links that lead to many sites related to the topics and subjects of the articles.

Related article links

For example, the sites may feature articles surrounding the music industry. As a website visitor reads the articles they have searched for, they can find at the end of the article a related articles list that can be clicked to link them to the additional information on the subject. Of course the article would be in relation to the site. Lets say the article is about The Grammy Awards, the related articles section may link to stories about announced performers or presenters for the awards show.  This creates more engagement from your readers AND lets other writers know you are also covering similar topics.  Perhaps at some date, they will link back to your article, giving it extra life!

The Benefits?

Now we know what related articles are, what are the benefits of having a good list of related pieces at the end of your article? Mainly related articles potentially drive traffic to your site by creating an association with other articles and writers on the same subject type.  They also get affiliation with other sites that can be beneficial for them as well. For the sponsoring site, when you get people to click on your related article links, you generate traffic that can be counted upon as potential future readers.

Never underestimate the power of the related articles section of your piece, it may be small in size but will provide a significant aid in driving traffic back to your site. A boring list will never get the job done, carefully select recent and relevant articles from the most recognizable sources you can find.  When and if those sources link back to your article, it increases the lifespan of something that by default can get lost in the archival abyss that is the Internet.

Great for publicity writers!

One last note, this tool is ESPECIALLY useful for PR specialists who disseminate their client news using outlets of their own creation like blogs, newsletters, etc. Tying your client’s story to a similar article about a major name from a major outlet can turn your piece into something more than you ever expected!  Imagine having an Internet article on CNN.com or MTV.com listing your article in its related articles section of a news story.  Enough said!

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INDUSTRY TIPS AND ADVICE: 5 IMPORTANT SKILLS TWITTER TEACHES US

Posted: January 24, 2012 by jdobypr in #DJ, Awards, Hip Hop, Media, Music, News
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twitter logo map 09

Image by The Next Web via Flickr

Picture this: one day, a company comes out of nowhere to introduce a service that renders Twitter obsolete. Overnight, all of those hours you spent cranking out tweets are useless. Or are they?

Let’s face it: Twitter is not so much about our follower counts, retweets, or mentions. Those are just numbers. Here’s the real deal: Twitter prepares us for the future by teaching us valuable, real-world skills.

So even if Twitter dies tomorrow, here are the five most important skills we can learn from it.

1. Networking

Twitter is simply a tool we use to nuture our social and professional networks. Effective networking involves keeping track of what your colleagues are doing. That includes industry figures, friends, clients, and fans. Furthermore, we keep our networks fresh by staying engaged with people.

2. Engagement

Suddenly, social networking isn’t just about connecting. Now, it’s about engaging. Basically, real engagement just means we talk with our fans rather than at them. Now we’re treating followers like real people! Artists are speaking directly to fans instead of issuing a blanket press release written by someone outside of the band. Musicians are using this skill to resolve problems, show appreciation for kindness, and display interest in others’ personal lives.

3. Communicating Succinctly

Believe it or not, communicating succinctly is an incredibly valuable skill. After all, college journalism classes devote much time and energy to the art of the headline.

Twitter’s 160 character limit forces users to communicate efficiently. Concise communication helps people understand what you want. It lets them know exactly what you’re asking them to do. (read more…)

Retrieved from:  http://getitdoneblog.net/2012/01/24/industry-tips-and-advice-5-important-skills-twitter-teaches-us/ (January 24, 2012)

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Report: Google Music Has A Deal With Sony

Posted: November 16, 2011 by jdobypr in Music, Radio
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Google gets Sony on board for music service
On MONDAY (NET NEWS 11/14), ALL ACCESS reported GOOGLE was ready to finally launch its music service — but they were expected to do it without WARNER MUSIC and SONY to start — having only signed a deal with UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP. GOOGLE sent invitations MONDAY for a press event, to be held in LOS ANGELES, where the company is expected to add downloads to its cloud music service, as well as unveil social-networking features.

Now BLOOMBERG reports, GOOGLE has reached an agreement to offer songs from SONY CORP. for a new music service being announced TOMORROW, a person with knowledge of the situation said, leaving WARNER MUSIC GROUP as the lone holdout. VIVENDI SA‘s UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP and EMI GROUP, the other two major record labels, have already signed on, said two people, who weren’t authorized to speak publicly.”

It’s expected that GOOGLE’s store in the cloud will allow songs to be stored online and played from multiple devices. The pricing has been rumored at 99 cents to $1.29.

Retrieved from: http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/99063/report-google-music-has-a-deal-with-sony?ref=mail_recap (Nov 16, 2011)

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Posted: October 8, 2011 by jdobypr in SwurvRadio
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