Lesson 1: Social media is like teen sex. Everyone wants to do it, nobody knows how. When it’s finally done there is a surprise that it’s not better.

Social media marketing isn’t something you do just because everyone else is doing it. If you don’t know what your doing and you don’t have a focused strategy it isn’t going to work and you will be left unsatisfied with the results.

Lesson 2: Gary Vaynerchuk put it perfectly when he said; “Everyone in social media right now is like a 19 year old dude: they try to close too fast.”

Of course social media marketing will help sell stuff, but your message can’t sell, sell, sell on the first transaction. The consumer needs courtship, you have to hold their hand and create engaging conversation.

Lesson 3: Sex has to be about your partners needs not yours. If you know your partner and focus on their needs the interaction will be magical.

Knowing who your customer is and creating a social media marketing strategy that is customer focused will foster deeper connected and more meaningful engagement. The below ad from Nike is a perfect example of knowing who your customer is and tailoring your message specifically for them.

We are currently working to produce instructional documents to walk you through implementing the new changes on your Facebook Page, but until then we have created a free downloadable PDF titled “Timeline For Brand Pages – What You Need to Know Now”. This free PDF goes through the major changes and what you should know before March 30, when the layout goes live for all.

Fill out the form below to download the free PDF.

If your business or brand doesn’t have an official Google+ Page yet, now is the time to snatch one up. With Google+, the little +1 button will soon be absolutely everywhere — in display campaigns, various advertisements, on your website and even next to search results. The +1 button is the fastest growing social recommendation widget in history and is on over 1 million websites, receiving well over 5 billion impressions a day.

Fill out the form below a free PDF White Paper that will walk you through setting up a Google+ Page for your business or brand.

It is astonishing how much people LOVE infographics. They are everywhere! We post social media infographics all the time to our Facebook Page (shameless plug). There are companies that get paid very very well to just create infographics, there is even a company, Visual.ly, that will let you create your own infographics.

Here is a link to an infographic we created using Visual.ly for a funeral industry client: http://connectingdirectors.com/articles/1804-who-is-the-funeral-industrys-most-powerful-news-tweeter-infographic

Below is a great info graphic from Nrek.co. it is an infographic on infographics.

Nrek.co says this about infographis:

More often than not these days, the word [INFOGRAPHIC] has become synonymous with the word “bullshit”, but unfortunately for those of us who are calling it what it is, they’re here to stay — because (drum roll…) they get page views, shares, ???, profit.

Google has finally unveiled brand pages for Google+, allowing businesses and brands to join Google’s social network.

“So far Google+ has focused on connecting people with other people,” Google SVP of Social Vic Gundotra said in a blog post. “But we want to make sure you can build relationships with all the things you care about—from local businesses to global brands—so today we’re rolling out Google+ Pages worldwide.”

We could post a walk through video on how to set up your Google+ Page but Mashable has already done such a great job!

Check it out here: http://mashable.com/2011/11/08/how-to-google-plus-brand-page/#336016-Your-Google-Brand-Page

By far the worst mistake made by businesses using social media is not having a strategy. They know they need to be on Facebook and Twitter, but they are just randomly posting with no goal in mind and wonder why they are not converting and that so many other people think social media is so great.

Social media is not the “Field of Dreams”, you can’t build it and sit back and watch people click “like“. You have to engage, but engaging with out goals and a strategy is completely useless.

Did you know that over 85% of followers who “like” your fan page never comeback to your page? They are way more likely to get your updates in their newsfeeds, but only if you show up there….

Social Media Examiner is a great resource for social media marketing information and tips and today they shared with us a great article on “7 Ways to Get Noticed On Facebook With Newsfeed Optimization” so we thought it would nice to share with our followers.

In this edition of Social Media Examiner TV, Mari Smith explains seven ways to get noticed on Facebook with Facebook news feed optimization.

After you watch this video, share your feedback and see the show notes below!

Click Here to Watch the Video

I personally use social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter for customer service issues. This doesn’t require me to wait on hold or fight a language barrier with a customer service representative in a call center halfway around the globe.

The process is easy and can be very effective. In fact, In the last 3 months customer service I have received through social media outlets have keep me a customer of two great brands.

Blank Label, a custom dress shirt site for men, sent a reply to an order change I had at 1:00am in the morning through Twitter.

I had a great conversation on the Facebook Wall of Invicta Watches with a customer service rep who explained their online ordering process. I went from angry back to a loyal fan in a matter of minutes. The most beautiful thing was that a number of other fans of the brand joined into the conversation as well.

I had a situation with US Airways last week and went to reach out to them through their social media channels on Facebook and Twitter. I was floored when I read the following on their Twitter description:

Have a complaint/compliment to share with us? Go to usairways.com/feedback so we can followup directly.We aren’t able to provide a proper response on Twitter.

The same thing was posted on Facebook and their website about responses through their social media channels.
US Airways is completely missing the point of social media.

When competitors like Southwest Airlines (@southwestair) are embracing social media and are reaching out and making it a point to embrace the consumer it is no surprise that they are gaining market share.

For social media to be effective it has to be authentic and real. You have to engage and respond to the consumer.

For this reason alone, US Airways is completely failing with social media.

“Our partnership will focus on creating massive viral visibility for Levine Memorial Chapel,” declared Ryan Thogmartin, founder of Disrupt Media Group. “This means we effectively use the powerful online marketing platforms to ensure greater visibility, website traffic, to engage current customers and acquire new customers.

“We knew marketing has shifted from the old-school, one-way broadcast, to a multi-point conversation -but we had no idea how to take a tradition business like a funeral home and deploy a social media marketing plan,” revealed Mark Levine.

“That’s why we turned to Disrupt Media Group, an emerging leader in social media marketing and strategy planning. We’re aware of what they’ve done for other companies and more specifically other funeral homes, and are confident in their ability to promote our brand through Facebook, and Twitter as well as other social media outlets in the near future”

“Disrupt Media Group will work with Levine Memorial Chapel to create a social media strategy and high level engagement goals that will promote the funeral home’s products and services, in an educative, insightful way,” comments Disrupt Media Group lead strategist, Ryan Thogmartin. This guarantees that Levine Memorial Chapel will be in front of thousands of interested prospects on a consistent, regular basis.”

“We’re excited about the partnership,” shared Levine. “We are already hard at work, tailoring an online marketing plan-of-action unique to our demographic and customer base, and our leadership team knows we’ve hired a truly experienced, professional organization to increase our online presence in the marketplace.”

About Levine Memorial Chapel

Levine Memorial Chapel has been a leader in Jewish Funeral Services for 59 years. The firm delivers high quality funeral services to its clients. Levine Memorial Chapel was first located on lower Madison Avenue in Albany, NY, and was later moved to Delaware Avenue. In 1969, Levine Memorial Chapel relocated to a larger facility on Washington Avenue in Albany, NY. For more information please visit: http://www.levinememorialchapel.com, or Follow Levine Memorial Chapel on Twitter and “Like” them on Facebook.

About Disrupt Media Group

Launched in 2011, the goal of Disrupt Media Group is to empower business owners with the skills necessary to use social media as a leading vehicle in promoting their businesses. Their social media experts give their clients real, actionable information, tools, and strategies to fit their online marketing needs.

Collectively, the team at Disrupt Media Group has 11 years of experience in creatively helping companies to build their brand through Creative Web Design, and Social Media Marketing. They’re on top of the trends and innovations, and work closely with their clients to create — and implement- powerful, engaging, and all-inclusive online marketing. Contact them today to learn how they’re giving a competitive edge to companies around the country. For more information, visit their website at www.disruptmg.com, or contact founder Ryan Thogmartin directly atryan@disruptmg.com.