Baer says, “Facebook just made a big move that gets them closer to what they really want, which is to take over as the new email.This was kept pretty quiet, but it could have long-term, big implications for us all. Facebook has announced that if you use Facebook Messenger, their messaging application, you do not now have to be a member of Facebook. Anybody can have Facebook Messenger, even if they don’t want to be part of the overall Facebook platform.And this, ladies and gentleman, is another step in what Facebook’s long-term plan, which is to become the de facto communication tool... [...]

Baer says, “People in marketing and content roles can be a little less quantitative and a little more creative, so sometimes we take it personally when we hear someone poking holes in our ideas. But if you can set your ego aside and remember  that they’re really just trying to do their job, you can get a lot accomplished. You have to remember that everything you do is going to require more work from other people. (highlight to tweet) Approaching conversations from that standpoint and understanding expectations goes a long way.Buy-In Outside the Marketing TeamShannon has long since... [...]

Baer says, “Part whimsical pinboarding site and part lead generation wonder, Pinterest has solidified itself as a major player among today’s social media channels. While there are many reasons for this, a standout is its ability to personalize curated boards around topics of interest. From recipes to workouts, interior design, fashion and more, there seems to be an endless trove of content opportunities on Pinterest for companies to showcase their offerings.The question is, with so much content on Pinterest, how are leading companies standing out? A good example comes from a company you... [...]

Baer says, “Part whimsical pinboarding site and part lead generation wonder, Pinterest has solidified itself as a major player among today’s social media channels. While there are many reasons for this, a standout is its ability to personalize curated boards around topics of interest. From recipes to workouts, interior design, fashion and more, there seems to be an endless trove of content opportunities on Pinterest for companies to showcase their offerings.The question is, with so much content on Pinterest, how are leading companies standing out? A good example comes from a company you... [...]

Baer says, “Facebook doesn’t just want to help you promote your website. Maybe they want to replace your website?Facebook announced that they are making yet another change to the news feed algorithm. This time they have determined that if you spend a disproportionate amount of time on a particular Facebook post, even if you do not engage with that post, even if you do not like it, if you do not comment on it, if you do not share it, if you just spend time on it, so you stop scrolling and you watch, read, etc., if you’re reading the comments, etc., then they will give it extra love, and... [...]

Baer says, “Posting on social media sites, sending out e-newsletters, creating videos, and blogging are some of the preferred content marketing tactics among companies. However, one tool that is often overlooked is the webinar.According to the Content Marketing Institute’s 2015 B2C Content Marketing survey, 93 percent of marketers utilize social media content, 80 percent use e-newsletters, 74 percent produce videos, and 67 percent blog. Only 31 percent hold webinars or webcasts.Webinars can be extremely valuable to a company’s marketing strategy. Some advantages include:The opportunity... [...]

Baer says, “A sunny day, unblemished by a single cloud in the sky. A masterful painting with not one stroke out of place. An hour of watching Jimmy Fallon without phones ringing, the door buzzing, or insipid ads playing in a loop. These are what I imagine perfection to be in my head.Most website owners I know tend to add their websites to that list. I would beg to disagree.Admittedly, you don’t need to hire a designer or even a developer anymore to build a half-decent website. Tools such as Weebly (great for launching themed blogs in an instant), Spaces (the latest for online stores with... [...]

Baer says, “As social media becomes more and more ingrained in our daily lives, it’s easy to relate each platform to our physical environments. LinkedIn, for example, is the office: a professional landscape we use for networking, sharing news, and connecting with coworkers. Facebook is your living room, where you catch up with friends (but still guard your privacy).And Twitter? Well, Twitter is the bar scene, where people let loose and talk to strangers, drop one-liners (or pick-up lines), and engage with personalities from all walks of life.5It is this bar-like atmosphere that makes... [...]

Baer says, “Steve Rayson, Director at BuzzSumo, joins the Social Pros Podcast this week to discuss how different types of content resonate with different audiences, where visual content is headed, and how important influencers are to building your brand.Steve Rayson has always been really interested in the learning processes and how it ties in with technology. In years past, he developed and sold two e-learning companies. When he sold the second, he had to sit out of e-learning for three years because of a requirement in the contract. During that down time, he came across the beta form... [...]

Baer says, “If you’re like most online marketers, you’ve probably spent a great deal of time perfecting your site’s usability, crafting your copy, and making your calls to action hard to resist.That’s important to get your site to convert well, but don’t forget about these five digital marketing strategies.  Their return on investment is huge.Make Sure Your Page Load Speed Is Lightning-FastSome businesses don’t put too much focus on the load speeds of their pages. They use images without specifying dimensions and a lot of code that bogs down load speeds.Research done by the... [...]