Bevelwise Blog

Both Google and Bing (with Yahoo SERP going to be powered by Bing they will really be one in the same) plan to begin indexing Twitter tweets in 2010. That will allow them to show the the tweets within the Search Engine Results Pages (SERP). This will more than likely be the first test for real time, non-paid, content to be indexed and shown on SERPs. That means you should position your Brand for more in depth, relevant, and timely tweeting because you will be able to move the bar on the search engines more quickly.

This will also help move Twitter from the social space into the main stream for business purposes because this will make it relevant on so many levels. Effecting real time search results? That is power. I would see Blogs getting the real time priority next(especially those using Blogger if you are Google) as they already help immensely with index-able content on a site. One would have to think that Facebook posts would be on the short list as well to go real-time

Labels: Bing, blogging, Facebook, Google, online marketing, SEO, SERP, social media, Twitter

Social media optimization is a set of methods for generating publicity & conversations through social media and online communities. Social media optimization is related to search engine marketing, but differs in several ways, primarily the focus on driving traffic from sources other than search engines, though improved search ranking is also a benefit. Search Engines also "love" this type of content because it is updated often, and seen as new and fresh.

A social media campaign means developing a great message and then reaching out to people, while giving them an incentive/reason to pass it on to other people. Social media optimization is a kind of viral marketing, where word of mouth is created through the businesses and people connecting and having 2-way conversations online.

For Business Social Media to work well, you need constant updates and make them interesting!! Also, you need fans who care enough about your message to pass it on to their friends. This is how something (good or bad) can get spread extremely quickly. If people like something and find it useful, they will link to it and tell their friends. Like anything else online - understanding the motivations and culture of the audience is key to making social media work.

Social media software applications include:

• Social Networks: Facebook, LinkedIn & Naymz (for professionals), Ning, NowPublic, Plaxo, MySpace, Avatars United, Bebo, Skyrock
  

• Blogs: (update very often) Blog.com, Blogger, Livejournal, Posterous, Tumblr, Typepad, Wordpress, Vox


• Blog Directories: Blogapedia, Blogarama, BlogCatalog, Blogdirs, Blog Flux, Bloghub, Blog Listing, Blogtoplist, Technorati


• Bookmarks: Delicious, Digg, Mixx, MyBlogLog, Newsvine, Propeller, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Yahoo! Buzz



• Free Directory Listings: (some may take time to get listed) Bateekh, BizHWY, Cardboard, CrunchBase, DMOZ, GetFreeListing, Google Local, Jayde, Jigsaw, Librarians' Internet Index, Little Web Directory, Manta, MerchantCircle, Simple Directory, SuperPages, Tradevibes, TurnPike, WebBuyersGuide, Web World, Yahoo! Local, Yellow Pages


• Name Checks: (don't let someone take your name) Namechk, Usernamecheck


• Post Presentations: AuthorSTREAM, Slideshare


• Post Videos: Vimeo, YouTube


• Press Releases: i-Newswire, PR.com, PressReleasePoint, PRLog.org


• Publish Articles: ArticleDashboard, Articles FACTORY, Ezinearticles, IdeaMarketers, Yahoo Articles Group


• Wikis: Pbwiki, Wetpaint, Wikipedia


• Social Aggregation Tools: Bloglines, Delicious, FriendFeed, YouBundle


• Events: Yahoo Upcoming, Eventful (concerts), meetup
  


• Twitter Tools: Grader, Ping, TweetDeck, TweetLater, HootSuite


• URL Shorteners: bit.ly, memurl, TinyURL, owl.ly, tr.im.com
  

Social media should be in your marketing mix, but it needs to be done right! Make it work for your specific target audience. Develop a great message and reach out to people...then hope they pass it on! Social Media is about connections, so make it a 2-way conversation.

Please contact Bevelwise if you would like to add Social Media to your company's marketing mix and need some help.

Many other sources have assembled lists of social media sites. Relevant Social Media helpful spots:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media
http://www.prelovac.com/vladimir/top-list-of-social-media-sites
http://nextmark.typepad.com/blog/2009/07/top-100-b2b-social-media-cheat-sheet.html
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/my-best-advice-about-social-media/
http://www.mintblogger.com/2008/02/definitive-list-of-30-popular-social.html

Labels: Bevelwise, blogging, Google, HowTo, Marketing Trends, SEO, social media, social media optimization, Twitter, web marketing, web strategy