Timing Social Media Posts

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Timing is a key element for all Social Media posts. But how do you know when is the right times to release your posts to your specific target audience?

Check Your Insights

Insights are a good place to start with timing. Depending on what you are promoting digitally (Website, Blog or Facebook Page...) you can look at specific times your audience has viewed your page. Facebook Blogger and Google Analytics have tools which enable you to view the times with the largest hits. The peaks in the data are obviously your main timing focus. 

Where is Your Target Audience?

Sometimes your main audience may not even be in the same time zone as you are. This can be a simple mistake people make when preplanning Social Media posts. Checking your Analytics will show you where your main audience lies.

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In a General Sense (Twitter and Facebook)

Although I would always recommend a specialist approach to your audience you can generalise it to a few key points:

• Tweet more Morning, Noon and Night

Twitter is a microblogging site – with a stance for quick and current bursts of thought. It’s better to post at times when people are going to check it I.E Not during work hours.

• Facebook is all about Quality over Quantity

It is best to post one detailed and informed Facebook post which will capture your audience’s attention, than lots of little annoying posts. Facebook has a ‘top feed’ structure, which means posts that are popular will appear first in your news feed. You need to focus your social media campaign around trying to reach the top status – as opposed to bombarding readers with nonsense (which is of course highly acceptable on Twitter!).

A Basic Guide to Scoop.It

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Sometimes you find Social Media tools which are just too good to keep a secret to yourself. Scoop.It is one of those insider secrets - a site which is based on a fantastic concept and it works easily and effortlessly. 

When you are creating content for Social Media, it is essential you broadcast news which will inspire and attract your audience. However the reality is of this is that it takes a lot of time and effort to sift through so many channels (LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter, Blogs...) to find the content you want.

Scoop.It is all about making this easier and more efficient – two words every Social Media Marketeer likes to hear.

• Scoop.It feeds you content that it thinks you’re going to like. This is based on your topics of interest and key words you enter when you sign up. For example my interest is Marketing and other topics I have told Scoop.It I want to hear about are Social Media, Digital Marketing and SEO. My Scoop.It news feed is automatically filled with so much inspiration and Marketing – Perfect!
• When you’ve found something you like the look of you can Curate a topic to your Scoop.It.
• When you add something to your topic you can edit the content by putting your own comments and title on the content.
• This is a great and quick way of putting your own spin on something. 

• Perhaps the most important tool on Scoop.It is the fact you can then share this new content to other Social Media platforms.

By taking a few seconds to browse your Scoop.It you can have cultivated enough content to fill your Social Media for weeks.

If you are a Google Chrome lover like myself you can add the Scoop.It Chrome extension to your bookmark bar. 

An example of how the Chrome Extension works

Every time you come across a blog or an article of interest you can Scoop.It easily by clicking the extension button.

In an instant Scoop.It makes it easy for you to change and edit content to re-post on your Social Media simply. This saves a lot of time entering, and re-entering Social Media sites in order to post or update your content.  

Handy InfoGraphic to Save on your Smart Phone

 To wrap it up...

I am taking this blog post from my Marketing background, but its important to explain that Scoop.It offers windows of opportunity in many other communities; there is a Scoop.It for everyone (from air guitar players to knitters). That in itself if what makes this Social Media platform one to look out for at watch. I can only see Scoop.It growing from strength to strength in the future- watch this space.

Want to Follow me on Scoop.It? 

Top 5 Innovative ways of using QR Codes in Marketing

What is a QR Code?

Google: A machine-readable code consisting of an array of black and white squares, typically used for storing URLs or other information for reading by the camera on a smartphone.

How can I create a QR Code?
Anyone can make their own QR Code easily. You can use websites such as Kaywa or QR Stuff which generate the code for free.

How can you use them innovatively and creatively? 

1. Notes and Handouts

A great way to save space on paper (encouraging eco-friendliness) and connecting the static print world to the digital - is to add QR codes of references on notes and handouts. This is a really clever way of engaging people to click certain links easily, without the hassle of typing.

2. Cup Cakes?

Ok, so it doesn’t have to be a Cup Cake but QR codes are so useful in PR because it offers a point of digital connection in the most unusual sensory experience I.E. eating a cupcake with a QR code.

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You could try this with:

• Rubbers, Rulers and general stationary
• Pizzas (Yes, I do mean pizzas)
• Badges 
• Clothing
• Coffee Cups
• Create a QR code on a window or wall

3. On your CV

A QR code is a real space saver when it comes to CVs for connecting to: LinkedIn profiles, Blogs or even image codes to work you have created.

4. To Video Footage

This concept can work within many marketing campaigns or even events. Let’s say I hand you my business card with a QR code to a video of my company and what we do. You may have a static Marketing campaign within an event, and you could use a video code in order to combine past records of current events. Links to videos work effectively because they offer visual connections to a present moment – much more powerful than reading material or a plane website link. 

5. Posters and Ads

One of the largest problems with Print Media is the fact you can't track the efficiency of a campaign. By adding in a QR code to print based Marketing items - it offers a way to measure the traffic of a campaign.

The Bigger, The Better

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Microsoft really has made an impact in Trafalgar Square today – how? Well they installed a giant semi-functional Surface 2 Tablet (Precisely 27ft wide and 17ft tall to be exact) on the square. And no, this doesn’t have anything to do with Honey I blew up the Kids.

Of course there really is no point of a giant tablet to the world domestically, so what it the purpose? It boils down to three words: word of mouth – the most powerful form of Marketing.

In a single instant Microsoft has created: talking points, a land mark, an intrigue and an icon. The Tablet hasn't gone unnoticed as publicity is rapidly spreading and people are talking (you only need to Google giant tablet London!).

So why have they gone to this extreme?

Well unless you have been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ll know that Microsoft tablet sales never manage to beat Apples Ipad. Recent TV Ads featured in the US show direct comparisons between the Tablets as they ‘battle’ it out.

One of the best ways to gain brownie points for your Brand is to remain interesting to your Customers. Apple does this often through show cases of new products, and even through its unique store experiences – complete with ‘Geniuses’.

So how does Microsoft compete? It can go better and bigger (literately). People notice spectacles and, if done right, it can rejuvenate a Brands image. Microsoft is well on the way to establishing itself in the Tablet market, all I can say is I would consider purchasing a Surface 2 – would you?