The Top 7 Social Media Marketing Trends That Will Dominate 2016

Social media marketing has always been a peculiar animal. Since its early days, where platforms were finicky and critics insisted that social marketing was not a viable marketing strategy, we’re now witnesses to an era with rock-solid platforms, useful advertising options, and plenty of free opportunities to make our content public.

Still, the world of social media changes quickly, with dozens of new platforms arriving each year and most existing companies scrambling to stay ahead of the game with new features and innovations. If history and some recently emerging trends are any indications, 2016 will be a host for a variety of new trends and changes in the social scene.

Here are seven landmark social media marketing trends I predict we’ll see in 2016:

1. In-the-moment updates will dominate. Social media is already “in-the-moment” by nature, but there are some posts that are more “in-the-moment” than others. For example, take Periscope, which was recently acquired by Twitter—it allows users to give a live video broadcast of some stretch of their lives. Compare that to simply taking a video and posting it later—Periscope users collectively watch 40 years of live video each and every day. Instagram and Snapchat also support on-the-go, in-the-moment updates as opposed to late-game retrospectives, and could collectively herald in a new era of immediacy in social media. If it catches on, you can forget about scheduling all your company’s social media posts in advance.

2. Buy buttons will take over. Facebook and Pinterest are just two of the platforms that gained attention this year by introducing new “buy” features for their advertisers and users. Mobile users of Facebook and Pinterest who see a product they like in a sponsored post can now use one click to purchase it, without ever leaving the app. Instagram isn’t far behind on the trend, and I imagine more social platforms will follow. By the end of 2016, most major social media brands will feature some kind of buy button naturally as an element of their advertising campaigns.

3. In-app functionality will diversify and spread. Facebook is the king of adding new functionality. In the past year, they’ve introduced Instant Articles (a new form of publishing), an in-post search engine (to find articles you’re referencing), and videos that play instantly when scrolling. Now, they’re developing their own digital assistant (though it’s technically a digital/human hybrid assistant). Other platforms are working similarly, with Twitter, Instagram, and others trying to expand their platforms to a similar degree, preventing users from ever leaving the app. Expect this trend to continue well into 2016, giving marketers ever more opportunities to engage with their audiences on one platform.

4. New publication options will be available. Facebook’s Instant Articles are only the beginning. Publishers on board with the program can publish full-length articles to Facebook users, without having to link to an external source. As social platforms become more competitive and more aggressive about keeping users in-app for as long as possible, I imagine they’ll dream up even more sophisticated forms of publishing for businesses and organizations. Twitter’s upcoming Project Lightning puts publication in the hands of its users, but it still represents a dynamic way to present material to the public.

5. User privacy concerns will hit an all-time high. After another year full of high-profile security breaches (like the one with Ashley Madison), user concerns over privacy are going to hit an all-time high. Snapchat’s explosive popularity is, in part, due to user demand for a more private, secure method of communication and engagement. Facebook is introducing more privacy awareness tools for its users, and it’s smart to do so, because as tension continues to rise, only platforms which offer a degree of privacy and security will continue to thrive. For advertisers, that might mean backing off of sometimes-intrusive forms of advertising.

6. Competition for organic visibility will increase. Finally, as the ROI of social media marketing becomes more established and social marketing itself becomes more accessible for a wider range of businesses, there will be a greater level of competition for organic visibility. Already, Facebook is throttling organic visibility to force people to buy advertising, and as more businesses emerge in the market, that throttle will only increase, and among more social media channels. The cost of advertising, too, is set to rise over the course of the next year.

7. Fewer small platforms will emerge. For the last several years, we’ve seen at least a few dozen new social media platforms rise up and either blink out of existence just as quickly or settle in as a middle-of-the-road platform that never gets more attention but never really dies out. This past year, the trend has changed—platforms have tended to skyrocket in popularity to stand on their own, get enough attention to be acquired by one of the big three (Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn), or die a quick death. In 2016, I expect we’ll see fewer small platforms as the big players' race to gobble up the promising small fry, meaning you’ll have to worry about fewer up-and-coming opportunities.

I anticipate these trends will permeate the landscape of social media marketing, across multiple platforms and of course many audiences. Already, you can see platforms like Facebook and Twitter rushing toward these achievements at an alarming pace, but it’s the companies who adapt to these changes who stand to benefit the most. Prepare for these changes and beat your competition to the punch, and you’ll be rewarded with more visibility and a greater reputation.

 Source: http://bit.ly/2ct5IZV

14 Things You Should Never Tell Your Employees During a Performance Review

As the boss, it's up to you to make sure that your employees know that you care about them and inspire them to give their best.

"Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots."--Frank A. Clark

"As the adage goes, 'Words are free. It's how you use them that may cost you,'" says Darlene Price, president of Well Said, Inc., and author of "Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results." "What you say to your employees in their annual reviews can chart a better course for their future, or demoralize them."

Words spoken by an authority figure, such as a manager or boss, are particularly impactful, she explains. "That's why it's a good idea to choose them carefully--to ensure your employees know you care about them and their performance, and to inspire them to give the best they have to offer."

Here are 14 phrases to avoid in the performance review:

'Jane can do this--why can't you?' Or, 'None of your coworkers seem to struggle with this--what's your problem?'

Avoid comparisons.

"Contrasting one employee against another is likely to elicit shame, envy, and resentment. Focus instead on what this employee can do differently to get a better result," says Price. 

'Everything is perfect.'

Don't pretend everything is perfect.

Chances are, it's not. Even the best employees can improve on a thing or two. 

If this person is doing a great job, of course you should tell them that--but then talk to figure out ways to bring them to the next level. 

And if everything is not great, don't lie and say it is. Of course you want to be encouraging and acknowledge this person's achievements, but don't sugar coat everything. If you really, truly want to help this employee, you'll need to tell them what they can be doing better, and offer your support as they work to accomplish those things. 

According to a 2014 Harvard Business Review study, 57% of employees like to receive negative feedback, while only 43% like hearing positive feedback only. 

But make sure you go about giving negative feedback the right way.

'You always/never do X.' Or, 'Everyone thinks Y.'

Don't generalize. 

"Generalities are the quickest way to put the employee on the defensive," Price explains. "Constructive feedback is specific, timely, and actionable--it's the basis for an honest beneficial performance evaluation."

'If you can't do a better job, I'll find someone who can.' Or, 'If you don't start improving in this area, you're out.'

Don't threaten.  

"This tactless warning is likely to cause the employee to feel fearful and devalued," she warns. "Instead, express your belief that he or she is capable of performing at a higher level."

'I'm not sure how to help you.'

Don't fail to offer your support. 

One of the worst things a manager can do is give feedback, make suggestions, and then not offer to help the employee accomplish these things.

As the boss, you're not expected to come up with solutions to every issue addressed during the review, but you should offer support, guidance, and advice to the employee as they work toward self-improvement. 

'What's wrong with you?! You're the worst member on my staff.'

Don't humiliate.  

"Putting down your employees will not help them live up to your expectations," she says. "Terms of judgment such as 'wrong' and 'worst' are likely to embarrass your employees and hurt their feelings."

Instead, articulate your expectations in a positive, effective manner so that your employees clearly understand how to perform well on the job.

'I hope you're going to have a better year.' Or, 'I'm a little worried about you handling the XYZ account.'

Don't imply doubt.

"Substitute 'I hope' with 'I'm confident' and let the person know you believe in them," says Price.

'Okay, that's all I have to say. We're done.'

Don't do all the talking.

Don't rattle off your list of complaints, or sing the employee high praises, then kick them out. Just like a good hiring manager would do in a job interview, turn the tables at the end of the performance review and allow them to speak and ask questions. This is a crucial part of the review process and you wouldn't want to take that away from them. 

'I don't have any feedback.'

Don't say nothing.

Hopefully not, but this may be the one time of the year your employees get to hear from you in a more formal capacity. Don't fail them by saying nothing. If you feel uncomfortable giving feedback--especially criticism--then you shouldn't be managing people. 

Your employees want to know how they're doing. They crave feedback--good and bad--and want you to communicate your expectations. Use this time to do just that. 

'I don't have time to meet.'

Don't appear too busy.

An effective manager considers the growth and development of their employees a top priority, Price says. "Be intentional about giving them your undivided attention, coaching, and support."

 Source : http://bit.ly/1RNXEP5

10 Ways to Kickstart Your Business Idea in 2016

It’s never been a better time to start a business. Access to online environments and innovations such as smart devices and cloud technology mean that many entrepreneurs can set up on a shoestring and get things going without needing excessive start-up budgets. Add into the mix the wide availability of cloud-funding platforms and cheap marketing through social media and it’s easy to see the many opportunities that people don’t want to miss out on.

Here are just some ways to get your business idea off the ground if you have the entrepreneurial spirit this year.

1. Find the Right Support

You may have all the personal and physical tools in place, but you’re nowhere without friends. There’s no better time to start networking, building business associate relationships, and getting sound advice from people in your local area and online. The great news for startups is there’s plenty of guidance from other entrepreneurs who are happy to help out for free.

Take the opportunity to make solid, long-term contacts and research all areas of running a business. A good place to start is the Government’s own business portal.

2. Organize Your Funds

While it can be cheap to set up a business nowadays, especially if you have the right idea, it’s a good thing to check what you can currently bring to the table. This should include any debts you have, which may need to be addressed first, and the amount of collateral you can use, if needed, to apply for a loan. If you are finding it difficult to make ends meet, you may well have more problems down the line when you start your business.

3. Come Up with the Right Idea

What may seem like a good idea over a couple of drinks in the local bar might not seem so bright in the cold light of day. Coming up with a good idea is imperative if you want to have any chance of success.

This includes researching how others are running businesses in a similar industry or niche. It also means being honest with yourself.

For a very successful business, the question of scalability is always an issue. In other words, when you come to grow, how easy and cheap is it going to be to carry that out? If you run a restaurant business, that might involve giving out franchises or spending money on new premises.

4. Plan the Business

This is the crucial stage of any startup and the step that many entrepreneurs get wrong. It involves setting out clear stages and strategies, from getting financed, setting up websites, marketing, brand development, and deciding whether you need to have staff employed and where you are going to find them. As far as staff are concerned, there are plenty of options to hire freelancers who can do the initial jobs for you, though you may have to do some hard searching to find the right ones.

You also need to plan for a long-term future and not just look at the immediate setup of your business. There may be a lot to do but it’s important that you have your direction set for some time to come. Your plan should include how you are going to build capital and secure your business future.

You’ll need a strong business plan, especially if you are going to be heading to the bank for a loan or looking at crowdfunding. Check out this article from Start Up Donut for some sound advice.

5. Check Yourself Online

If you have been working for a number of years, no doubt you have a persona online and you need to have a quick search to make sure it doesn’t have any negatives associated with it. Another thing to check, if you don’t want egg on your face, is the name of your new company and whether someone else has got there before you.

6. Register Your Business

One thing you are going to need to do is register your business. This used to be a complicated process, but with online sites such as www.companyformations247.co.uk, everything is reduced to simplicity and you can register everything within 3 hours. You need to do this in the UK if you have a limited company, and it includes registering with Companies House as well as designating directorial roles within your business.

7. Raise Money

Getting the finances together for a business idea is much more viable nowadays. You can use your home or other properties as collateral for a bank loan or choose to sell property and self-fund. Increasingly, many entrepreneurs are turning to crowdfunding to get their business ideas off the ground. If you have good presentation skills and a solid business plan, and can communicate how strong your idea is, then this a great way to get capital. You generally pitch your idea online and people from all over the world can help fund it in exchange for something you offer, for instance a free product or share of the company.

8. Develop Your Brand Online

If you are going to run a business nowadays, you need to develop your online brand and that means marketing. You should have looked into this in detail in the planning stage of your business idea, as it’s the key to success or failure.

You need to build brand awareness, find a following, engage with customers, and use all the free and paid resources out there that help make your business thrive. This may include doing a lot of it yourself at first, but you can also engage with online marketing companies to help you choose the right options.

9. Test, Evaluate, Tweak, Test

While you had strong ideas for how your business would begin to develop, the chances are that things will not go completely according to plan. Even the most experienced entrepreneurs encounter hitches along the way. This is where you need to put in more hard yards. It’s a question of testing everything, evaluating it, tweaking, and then testing again to guide you in the right direction.

10. Plan for Growth

Once your business is up and running and you are satisfied with its progress, it’s time to take a look at that plan again and check whether you under or overestimated growth in the future. Now that you have a bit more experience in the real world, there will no doubt be new ideas that have to be incorporated to guarantee more success. You might need to think about getting other experts on board, or you could be looking to expand into profitable new markets.

There’s no doubt that running a new business requires a lot of good thought, strong planning, and putting in the effort, not to mention often working long hours. With some 50% of startups failing within the first five years, it may seem that you are swimming against the tide in the effort to succeed. If you have done the planning, come up with a great plan, and have the enthusiasm and energy to carry it forward, you stand a better chance of success than other ventures.

 Source : http://bit.ly/24EgCyv

11 of the Best Infographic Designs of 2015

Infographics that really stand out are far more than just a smattering of pictures and charts. They might tell an engaging story -- one built around compelling data, graphics, or illustrations. Or perhaps they serve as a really helpful visual resource.

While great infographics come in a variety of forms, the common thread is that they're visually pleasing and designed in a way that makes complex topics easy to understand whether you're a novice in the subject or an expert.

Here are 11 brands from all different industries -- from education to insurance -- that totally nailed their infographics this year. Check 'em out and get inspired.

11 Great Infographic Examples of 2015 

1) Music Timeline, by Google

The best infographics communicate information in an intuitive and beautiful way. Google nailed it with their "Music Timeline" microsite, which visualizes music trends from 1950 to present, by popularity. The best part? The version on their site is interactive: When you click on one of the genres, you'll get a more detailed visualization of that genre's popularity along with a list of the most popular albums of the time in that genre.

2) The Daily Routines of Famous Creative People, by Podio

In this infographic, the folks at Podio took a simple concept and executed it fantastically. Using information from the book Daily Rituals by Mason Currey, it shows the daily schedules of famous creatives broken down by time and activity. Not only is this an example of engaging data, it's also a fantastic editorial piece for a brand.

3) Men's Dress Codes Made Simple, by Samuel Windsor

The visual elements of an infographic are the most important part -- that's why you made the content into an infographic in the first place, after all. When you have a topic that's inherently visual, an infographic is a great way to go. The graphic below decoding men's formalwear reads like a cheat sheet. The design is simple and intuitive -- and the paisley design behind the title is a fun nod to the menswear industry. We also love how there's no more copy on here than there needs to be -- just a few simple titles and a handful of bullet points. 

4) 10 Dinner Table Customs From Around the World, by Wimdu

Any time you're writing about the "do" vs. "don't do" dichotomy, you might consider making an infographic out of it. You can easily put each "do" and "don't" beside one another in two columns for a great visual -- just look at the example below of dinner table customers from around the world. Each section is a different country, inside of which is one important dinner table custom that readers may not know about if they've never been to that country. Capping the number of tips per country to one keeps the content from feeling overwhelming.

5) A Guide to Who's Fighting Whom in Syria, by Slate

Mapping out the relationships between two or even three entities can be pretty simple. But what about when you have a lot of things to compare to one another? That's where putting that information into infographic form can really help you educate your readers in a way they'll understand. In Slate's case, they wanted to show the relationships among groups of people in the Middle East who are involved in the Syrian Civil War. By using a table format and familiar visuals and colors, the folks at Slate did a great job simplifying this data into a digestible format -- and the version on their website is beautifully interactive.

6) How Music Affects Your Driving, by No Nonsense Insurance

Work in a "boring" industry? Believe it or not, you can still create interesting and exciting content -- even if you're not working with a "sexy" topic such as food, travel, or culture. Want proof? An insurance company created the infographic below on how music affects your driving. Not only are the graphics fun, but there's a lot of helpful content in there, including facts and statistics paired with great visuals. Read this blog post for more tips on creating interesting content in a "boring" industry.

7) Our Dwindling Food Variety, by National Geographic

Infographics don't have to be long to be great -- it's all about how well the data is conveyed visually. The infographic below from National Geographic is short but sweet: It shows how many varieties of different kinds of fruit and vegetable seeds we had a century ago in comparison to today. Instead of using a traditional bar chart, they chose to hit the point home by designing a chart that looks like a plant.

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8) #GivingTuesday By the Numbers, by Classy

The look and feel of each infographic has a lot to do with brand personality. Here's a great example of an infographic with a design that stays true to brand. It pairs fun fonts with cute, block-color graphics. For example, check out the first set of bar charts: They use tree graphics in place of classic bars to make it more visually interesting without sacrificing clarity.

9) Cost of Living Around the World, by MoveHub

Here's another example of an infographic on an interesting topic that isn't riddled with numbers -- but this one's even simpler. There are no bells and whistles here: no introduction, simple colors, and not a lot of copy. The only thing missing is a short explanation of where the data comes from. Although they include a link to the source at the end and also offer more details about the data in their own blog post's introduction, it would have been helpful for others hoping to share the image or embed it on their site to have that information somewhere on the graphic. Still, we love the simplicity and straightforwardness of both the topic and design.

10) The Anatomy of a Perfect Checkout Page, by VWO

Here at HubSpot, we find that infographics on the "anatomy" of something typically do quite well. Here's a great example of one from VWO. It takes the reader through an example of what the "perfect" version of a checkout page would look like. The graphic breaks the page down into manageable chunks that are easy to follow. At the same time, the design is fun and attractive, combining colorful graphics with screenshots of real checkout pages for reference.

11) How to Keep Fruits & Vegetables Fresh Longer, by Full Plate Living

Who knew that some fruits and vegetables "get along" better with others in storage? I certainly didn't, and I found this infographic to be a wonderfully simple, yet comprehensive visual guide. The timelines are clear and readable, and each of the visuals is easy to skim so readers don't even have to read the names under each piece of food (unless they aren't sure what a plum look like).

Source : http://bit.ly/1O7s00l

8 Tips for Growing Your Social Media Presence

Social media has become a standard form of engaging and connecting businesses, brands and people. As of March 2015, Facebook has more than 1.44 billion users. As of 2015, Twitter has had more than 300 million monthly users. 

These statistics suggest that more and more people are using social media as a way to connect for personal and professional reasons. For the serious entrepreneur, business owner or brand builder, it's a wise decision to create a social media presence not only to reach the millions and billions of people around the world, but to also build brand awareness. 

For all you social media beginners out there, here are a few tips that will help you to grow your social media presence.

1) Know your audience. Before posting, understand who's reading and why. Once you know who's reading, you'll have a better idea of what, when, why and how to post.

Ex: If you're targeting professional men and women ages 30-45, you have to assume that between the hours of 9-5, the average person in this age bracket is at work. Finding the times they frequent social media will be crucial in your marketing success.

2) Post quality pictures, videos, blogs and texts that interest your audience. Creating a social media presence is all about keeping your audience entertained.

Ex: If your target audience is women who are interested in beauty products, you wouldn't simply post a message about what works, no... if you're smart, you'll post a video and photos to show your customer why they should invest in your products/services.

3) Be consistent. You are the news, so post daily and regularly. If you take any days off, your audience will follow the pages that don't.

Ex: Take advantage of Holidays, current events and worldly trends to tie it back into your brand.

4) Engage with your audience. If they have questions, give them answers. Customer service is the key to any successful business. Include this in your business model.

Ex: Acknowledge your fans and supporters when they post about your brand, reward them for their loyalty, and by all means, answer any questions they may have about customer service.

5) Show support. Follow other people, engage, share and promote their content on your page. The idea is to grow your audience. It's better to partner, than do it alone.

Ex: Do cross promotion for social media contests, do a special discount on your page for other people's events, host a TweetUp and promote a hashtag to raise brand awareness.

6) Promote social media contests. People are more likely to follow, like or share your page if there's something in it for them.

Ex: Collaborate with an author, coach or restaurant. With their permission, offer a selected winner from your audience their products and services in exchange for likes/follows.

7) Tell stories. No matter what you're selling, people want to know the seller. Share stories about what connects you to people and what connects you to your brand and you'll create a cult of supportive followers.

Ex: If you're a clothing designer, tell the story about how you grow up getting "hand me downs" as a kid and decided to design your own clothes out of sheets and fabrics. Your story will inspire others to support your brand simply because it touched their heart. That's BRAND power! 

8)Promote your social media presence online and offline. Brand yourself!

Source : http://huff.to/1HCsRnf