SCSC Web Dude Blog

How to Run a Successful Social Media Contest By  Ben Pickering Published  May 24, 2011  Are you planning to run a social media contest ( like this one )? Today it’s possible for anyone to  achieve success engaging consumers online , thanks to the growing popularity and relative ease of execution of social media promotions. The fact that anyone can run a promotion doesn’t mean that everyone should, and it certainly doesn’t mean that a promotion guarantees social media success. However, if executed as part of a comprehensive social media strategy, social media contests can  produce tremendous results no matter how large or small your business. So if you’re thinking of running a contest or sweepstakes, here are some key considerations. Start With the End in Mind Before jumping into a social media promotion, there are several important questions to ask: What are your marketing objectives?   Be clear and realistic about what you hope to accomplis...

5 Ways Marketers Can Use Instagram By  Rachel Sprung Published  January 23, 2013  Have you noticed how more marketers are using images in their social media marketing? Would you like to know how your business can use the popular sharing site Instagram? In this article, I will show you five ways to use Instagram to enhance your marketing. Why Instagram? In the last few years, the use of  Instagram  by companies  has skyrocketed . With millions of users, Instagram has become the perfect opportunity for brands to get quick messages and photos to their target audiences. When  Instagram  started out, it was simply a way to post pictures with your fans and did not have a lot of marketing value. However, in the last few years Instagram has proven to be an effective platform for marketers to  reach a new audience in a way the audience wants to be marketed to : with visuals and short messages . Search for "marketing" on Instagram. W...

7 Social Media Trends for Consumers: New Research By  Patricia Redsicker Published  January 16, 2013  Are you wondering what the changing social trends are for consumers? If so, look no further. In Nielsen and McKinsey’s  Social Media Report , consumers were surveyed to discover how they use social networks. Here are seven key findings  from that report. #1: More Time Invested in Mobile The survey found that  consumers are increasingly looking to their smartphones and tablets to access social media . While the PC is still the most widely used device when it comes to social media consumption, the study found that time spent on mobile apps and mobile websites accounted for a 63% increase (compared to 2011) in total time spent. Additionally, 43% of users said they use smartphones to access social media, while 16% connect using a tablet. Mobile and particularly apps are where people are spending their social networking time. Key Ta...

4 Ways to Boost Your Facebook Engagement With Promotions By  Mike Gingerich Published  January 8, 2013  Do you want to boost your Facebook engagement? Are you wondering if promotions will help? 79% of Facebook fans are more likely to purchase  from a brand they have liked, so pursuing more fans and deeper engagement with existing fans is a huge priority! While there are many core methods for increasing engagement such as creating highly shareable content , posting  images and videos  and  posting succinctly  at key times—a powerful method is to run promotions. Promotions have the ability to draw visitors to a  Facebook Page , and when used correctly, can be a very valuable tool to  accomplish your business’s engagement objectives . Selecting the Right Type of Promotion for Your Page A key question when thinking about running a promotion on a Facebook Page is, “Which type of promotion will work best for my goals?” Th...