Things to Think About When Expanding Your Social Media Avenues

There are so many damn social media outlets out there, and they keep coming.



Which ones should you be using? I can't give you that answer, since everyone uses social media avenues for very distinct and different reasons. I can however give you some things to think about when making a decision to use a particular one.

I am thinking about this in terms of marketing, advertising, or article promotion. What I mean by the last of those is three is that if you write an article somewhere and you want to promote it on the web. Marketo, a leader in business to business marketing outlined 5 things to think about. I will add my additional thoughts and other things to think about below.

1. Does the site have connectivity? Does it link to other sites so that you can get more exposure. Does this avenue integrate well with your own website?

2. Is it a choir to use? If you are using multiple social media avenues you do not want to be spending half of your day updating one.

3. Who are you trying to connect with? Who goes to that site and why do they go there? Does this fit into what you are trying to do? What size audience are you trying to reach, and is it a broad spectrum or a small one? You do not want to be using a site that reaches out to a large user base, when you really only want a specific group of people targeted, and only those people will be interested.

4. Test of time. There are a lot of different avenue being developed. Some kid on a computer is creating a different, new and improved Myspace everyday. Do you want to take a risk and try something new, or do you want something that has been tested true?

5. What is your goal by using this particular social media avenue? What are you trying to accomplish? The hope is that this will better your chances of appealing to your audience and increase your effectiveness.

6. Security. You want to make sure that you are using a social media avenue that respects your privacy. I know a lot of people will not use google+ due to this issue. Sometimes you may not be concerned about privacy, or you may never be concerned, but for those who are, do your research.

Social media can be a powerful tool for getting your product, idea, or article circulating around the web and creating a buzz. Just make sure you do not overwhelm yourself trying to use too many of these, or using ones that really don't do a whole lot.

Good Headlines Go Far for Readers - 9 Tips To Getting Noticed

Another great way to get your MyFDL post promoted to the front page for some real exposure, is to have a killer headline.

The goal is to have a headline that is strong and correlates with the text within the post. While there is not one way to go about writing headlines, no algorithm for success, there are some tips that our expert posters at FDL wanted to share.

A headline can have a huge impact on your post. Not only will more people on FDL read it, but others seeking the news on the Internet. Just think about supermarket tabloids and advertisements for food. Without a good headline or slogan, you’re eyes are not attracted to it, inevitably making it less successful. Lisa Derrick, from late night at FDL wrote to me and said; “Headlines Grab Readers’ Heads, Hearts.”

Here are a list of suggestions from our writers at the Lake:

1. A long headline can be effective, but as a general rule of thumb, you should always be as concise as possible

2. Use key nouns in your story (people's names, organizations, terms) to improve Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This will increase your chances of Google or other search engines recognizing your post.

3. Make it active. For example this post could have read "A Good Headline Goes A Long Way." The current headline give the title action.

4. You may want to think of you headlines as a 1-sentence abstract of the post.

5. Cut out adjectives and adverbs. Use strong, active verbs. Don't use the passive voice. Avoid TO BE verbs.

6. A headline in bold or in all CAPS is not the best way to get noticed. Focus on substance, rather than appearance.

7. Questions as headlines can be effective for readers, but questions lower your search engine visibility.

8. Be creative; comedic relief, quotes, popular culture phrases.

9. Don't be afraid to keep it simple.

It is important to grasp a readers attention, but the headline also has to match up with the content. Take this image to the right for example, which is a headline ad for a bacon company. Now, this headline is strong, comical, and attractive, but if it was not actually for a bacon company, and actually for a car company, it would have no worth.

Brainstorm when coming up with your headline, take your time, and do not settle. The title could be the only reason someone else reads your post.

Content Marketing - New Ways of Thinking in a Growing Medium

Whether you are marketing a product, idea, campaign, petition, or even a business strategy, your content has to be effective.

Simple concept to write down, more difficult to achieve. Since we are a kick-ass independent media company who focuses on political action, I will cater this discussion more in that direction.

The purpose of this post is to help you understand how to market a campaign that you feel passionately about. How do you get people interested initially? How do you convert them into supporters/activists? How do you keep them on your side and motivated? All things you should be thinking about in the long term, but in the short term, think about these things.

1. Capture the emotion. Human beings are behavioral species, believe it or not, we have feelings. It is your job when marketing an action to reach to the core of the emotion that drives them. Check out this article from Marketo about marketing philosophy!

2. Creating relationships one-by-one. Of course you cannot create an email or post for each person, but you have to create content that is relevant to a large body of people, but hits on a personal level to each of them. Think of the big picture, then make it personal.

3. Educate, don't sell. There has been a paradigm shift in content marketing in the business field, why wouldn't there be a change across the board? People are not just giving money away in these tough economic times. They need to be educated on the issue in order to support it. Teach them how to do something first, before asking them to do it. Simple, but this has not always been the case.

4. Nurturing. Continue to keep your supporters engaged, and do it with strong, educational content. Notifying your supporter base with news and updates about the cause, issue, or action, without any "ask" is important, and shows loyalty to them, and the action.

Content has to be generated often. It is tough with political actions to stay ahead of the curve and have content pre-produced, since most of the time you are acting 'in the now." If you can pre-produce, plan, and execute - a more proactive approach, you will be much more equipped and organized. If you are not lucky enough to have this luxury, then have a set plan, and stick to it. Stay focused, and remember to reach out to us at Firedoglake if you have ever need any help.