Author: Christian Karasiewicz

5 Easy steps for better SEO with Google Authorship

How to setup Google Authorship

Want to stand out on Google? While it is important to write great content that is optimized for SEO so that people find it, your best bet is to use Google Authorship.

What is Google Authorship?

Google Authorship is basically a way to link your Google+ account to your blog content. In addition, it adds a photo next to your content in search results – this way it’s easy to associate a name with a face.

This is beneficial if you rank well for certain keywords for the following reasons:

  • Links your content you post online back to you!
  • People searching can quickly see who you are
  • Identify how many people have you in their Google+ circles (a measure of influence)
  • Quickly identify your content in Google search results because you have a photo next to it
Google Authorship example
Example of a blog post with Google Authorship set up.

Setting up Google Authorship is easy. We’ve outlined the steps you need to follow below.

How to setup Google Authorship Continue reading 5 Easy steps for better SEO with Google Authorship

4 steps to a better Facebook link thumbnail image

One of the things that has always frustrated me when sharing content on Facebook is controlling the Facebook link thumbnail that is generated when you post a link on your Facebook Page.

This can be particularly frustrating if you’re sharing a link to a website that has an image that is perfectly optimized for Facebook, yet Facebook doesn’t seem to find the image.

As a result, you’re left to either upload your own image like this Facebook post or deal with an image that doesn’t fit the space like the one you see below.

Previous Facebook link thumbnail images

Old view of Facebook link thumbnail

Bad image, bad message

While you’re at Facebook’s mercy for images, ultimately, this can affect how fans see your brand.

For example, if I chose to go with the improperly sized image from above, I’m basically sending the message to my fans that I don’t care how my content looks. I just want them to read it.

Posting quality content is ideal. It is equally important when sharing content on Facebook to have rock-solid images as well. These include the Facebook link thumbnail image Facebook sees when you share a link, photos included on photo posts, etc.

If you’re stuck in this situation, you have three options.

Option 1: Go with the images Facebook finds

While option 1 is the easiest to do, it can do the most harm to your brand because of the message it sends to fans – you don’t care.

Old view of Facebook link thumbnail

 

Option 2: Facebook photo post

The second option is a little better. It does mean you’ll need to create a new, larger image (we recommend 600×600 px). In this situation, you’ll end up with a large image that’s visually appealing. To include your link, simply paste your link in the status update box and post it.

I like this option, but it means you need a graphics program (or a designer) to create something for you. You’ll also be devoting more time to finding images that fit the size of the post.

Facebook photo post

Option 3: Use a custom Facebook link thumbnail image

Hopefully you’re not satisfied with the first two options because option 3 is exactly what you need.

If Facebook happens to return images that are not properly sized, instead of settling, you can upload your own now. This way you can determine what Facebook link thumbnail image gets associated with your posts.

Custom Facebook link thumbnail

3 steps to creating a custom Facebook link thumbnail

Continue reading 4 steps to a better Facebook link thumbnail image

7 types of social media fans and making the most of them [Infographic]

Social media fans
Chances are, you’ve come across one of these social media fans at some point. It could be someone you know, your friend, a fan on your Facebook Page, or even you!

Reachlocal recently published the following infographic on the different types of social media fans that you’ll find online.

According to Reachlocal, there are the seven types of fans that you’ll likely encounter.

The seven most popular types of social media fans are:

  • The quiet follower
  • The casual listener
  • The deal seeker
  • The unhappy customer
  • The ranter
  • The cheerleader
  • The loyal fan

To find out which kind of social media fan you are, check out the infographic below.

7 types of social media fans Continue reading 7 types of social media fans and making the most of them [Infographic]

Modern marketing with the modern marketer [Infographic]

Modern marketing infographic

In just a few short years, marketing has changed. In fact, we’re now looking at modern marketing as being the new standard.

This means that marketers aren’t just coming up with ideas and passing them off to a designer to make those ideas come to life.

Modern marketing now blends the role of the marketer with the role of the creative team.

This means you essentially have a jack-of-all-trades on your team – someone who is creative, understands social media, but also has the skills to be able to comprehend, track, and measure the results of their efforts as well.

While marketing used to be an area that most business owners didn’t understand or didn’t see value in spending money on. Today, with the rise of digital media, marketing has moved to the forefront. In fact, it’s now one of the first things a business thinks about when creating a product.

This is because while marketing used to mean spending lots of money to get the word out about a product, modern marketing has provided a new means of getting the word out – all while tightening the pursestrings.

So what skills does a modern marketer need to succeed?

  • Ability to write
  • Capable of creating visual content
  • Social media skills
  • Capable of crafting compelling email marketing campaigns
  • Expert at budgeting
  • Master performance tracker
  • Trendspotting

In addition to having the skills mentioned above, the modern marketer also needs to know the 10 commandment of modern marketing so that they can learn what makes a good marketer and what makes a bad marketer.

Learn more about the skills needed in modern marketing with this infographic from Pardot, a marketing and analytics company.

Modern marketing – part artist, part scientist

Continue reading Modern marketing with the modern marketer [Infographic]

5 ways to add Vine videos to a blog post

Embed Vine videos

No doubt, Vine is an extremely powerful tool to help you create great content for your social media channels. But what about using Vine videos in your blog posts?

Once you’ve created your Vine masterpiece, you’re not just limited to sharing it with the Vine community. In fact, you can take it a step further and include Vine videos on your blog.

Note: This should work on WordPress (self-hosted and WordPress.com sites), Blogger, Tumblr, even on a Facebook landing page.

5 ways to add Vine videos to a blog post

Continue reading 5 ways to add Vine videos to a blog post

Video on Instagram – the definitive users guide

Video on Instagram

Today, Facebook announced “video on Instagram.” While this wasn’t exactly a surprise to most people (it has already been leaked a few weeks ago), it is a surprise because of how similar, yet different Instagram is when you compare it to the video-sharing app, Vine.

Features of video on Instagram

Instagram’s foray into video now gives users the following capabilities within the Instagram app.

How to shoot video on Instagram

Shooting video on Instagram

Continue reading Video on Instagram – the definitive users guide

Why do people unfriend on Facebook? [Infographic]

Why unfriend on Facebook?

You’ve gone through the trouble of vetting someone on Facebook, approved their friend request, and seen their updates in your news feed. So why do people unfriend on Facebook?

To friend or unfriend on Facebook?

While 82% of people add someone as a friend on Facebook because they know them in real life (tweet this), just because you know someone doesn’t mean you want to be friends with them on Facebook.

For example, I could know someone in real life, but once I’ve connected with them on Facebook, I might learn new things about them that I don’t particularly like. This can include political views, their posting strategy (sharing too many Internet memes or chain letter content), or simply because they post content that doesn’t add any value to my current relationship with them.

In this situation, if you find that someone’s habits on Facebook are unbecoming, it might be time to start to unfriend them.

Why people unfriend on Facebook Continue reading Why do people unfriend on Facebook? [Infographic]

Turning your social media obsession into your job [Infographic]

Social media obsession

Hi, my name is Christian Karasiewicz and I have a social media obsession. How many of you often find yourself saying the same thing? It’s ok to admit it.

With the growth in social media over the past few years, we are spending a lot more of our time online or at least thinking about what we’re going to post next.

Couple that with the fact that we’re always connected to our mobile devices – or at least constantly being reminded with each new notification that comes through and it is becoming increasingly difficult to escape social media.

Some people see this as a bad thing because it keeps us from interacting with people in-person. I see this social media obsession as a good thing though.

The social media obsession

Having an obsession with social media isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While it may take you away from your normal life, many businesses need help with their social media. That’s where having a social media obsession can pay off big-time.

In fact, here are a few helpful stats to help you turn your passion with social media into a long-term career.

  • 30% of brands are not using social media to its fullest because they lack employees with the proper skills.
  • 85% of businesses with a dedicated social media platform reported an increase in their market exposure
  • 56% of customer tweets to companies are being ignored

Tips on turning your social media obsession into a long-term career Continue reading Turning your social media obsession into your job [Infographic]

Messaging & how to make it stick [Infographic]

Make it stick - messaging

If you’re someone who gives a lot of presentations, it is important to get your message across and make it stick with your audience. Not only does this help your presentation leave a lasting impression with your audience, but it can have an even greater impact on future presentations as well.

Why make your message stick with your audience?

When you’re giving a presentation, you want to keep your audience interested. Good presentations often have a clear, strong message and are able to make it stick with their audience.

This means their audience will leave their having learned something valuable.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen though. For every good presentation, there are lots more bad presentations.

For me, there’s nothing like sitting through a boring presentation where the presenter just reads through the slides or worse off, they have too many points on each slide. Not only is this unattractive, but it’s confusing to the audience. 

While the presenter is able to deliver their message, they are not able to make it stick. This means they did not accomplish the goal of their presentations, which should be to inform and educate their audience with a clear message.

Did you make it stick?

You’ll know that your presentation was successful when your audience does the following:

  • Tell their friends and colleagues
  • Shares your name on their social media channels
  • References you in their own presentations
  • Blogs about you on their website

How to make it stick when giving a presentation?

The team over at Slideshop, a website that creates and sells powerpoint templates, put together this infographic about messaging and how to make it stick with your audience when you are giving a presentation. 

Personally, my favorite piece of advice is to limit the number of bulleted items you include on each slide. Often times, I comes across presentations that try to cram too much information onto one slide. There’s only so much information the mind can absorb at one time.

Look these over and let me know if you agree with these tips on how to make it stick with your audience.

10 techniques on how to make your message memorable and make it stick

Continue reading Messaging & how to make it stick [Infographic]

How to delete Facebook recommendations [video]

Delete Facebook recommendations

The Facebook recommendations box can be a valuable tool for your Facebook Page. What do you do when you receive Facebook recommendations that are negative or untrue?

Facebook recommendations – the good and the bad

Unfortunately, not every review your business receives on your Facebook Page is always going to be positive.

Reputation management is extremely important for every business, even when we’re talking about Facebook. When you are in this situation and have Facebook recommendations like this, what can you do to handle them?

Handling Facebook recommendations

The positive Facebook recommendation

If you receive a positive recommendation on your Facebook Page, since you cannot respond directly to that person, try seeking them out through their website, Facebook profile, or even their Twitter account, and thank them for the review. Hopefully you’ll make new friends and potentially create new opportunities for your business.

The negative (but true) Facebook recommendation

If someone has used your services and has left an unfavorable review about your business, don’t get mad because you don’t like what they had to say. Instead, you should try to make it a point to fix that aspect of your business. It could be a customer service issue or they simply received a bad product. The best thing you can do is not to delete this Facebook recommendation. Instead, work to resolve it.

This will go a long way to help your business improve and get better.

The negative (and entirely untrue) Facebook recommendation

In some cases, people will leave a recommendation on your Facebook Page that isn’t true. In fact, they may not have even used your services (ridiculous).

If you find yourself in this situation, it’s time to delete these types of Facebook recommendations from your Facebook Page.

How to delete recommendations from the Facebook recommendations box?

Continue reading How to delete Facebook recommendations