Sunday, June 19, 2011

Using Social Networking Sites as Marketing Tools

Using Social Networking Sites As Marketing Tools
"How to Utilize Social Media Tools for Your Company
Curtesy of YouTube & Mahalo.com
Jena Andres interviews Kate Gardiner


The Internet today has become the number one way consumer’s access new music, read the latest news and purchase the latest gadgets. For this reason, it is very important to have a presence on branded social media sites, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, etc., so that consumers see your brand frequently. When establishing a social presence, it is important that the content you share is of high quality and reflects the image and message that the brand wants to represent. If you are a small business owner who has yet to embrace social networking, now is definitely the time to put that vehicle in motion.

When it comes to the best networking tools for startup companies, business professionals favor Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as the top sites. In the video I attached below, Jena Andres of Mahalo.com interviewed web strategist Kate Gardiner, who stated, “In my opinion, you must have an aggressive appearance on Facebook and Twitter as well as LinkedIn”(Youtube, 2011). Joining these media streams and using them can be the edge your business needs to stand out among competitors.

Social networking platforms set the stage for building relationships with people who share the same interests, activities and personal contacts. This also means social networking also enable business, both big and small, to invite audiences to get to know their brands in non-traditional ways of marketing or advertising.

It is important to research, study and decided what sites are best for your particular type of business. Before opening any accounts and becoming an active member, consider how your business can profit from the sites resources. It is also important to have a strategic marketing plan and analyze the marketing vehicle of the major companies within your industry. Analyze your current social media strategy, your targeted audience and how it can possibly be improved. Without this plan, you could find yourself wasting time and joining sites that are not meeting the needs of your business.



YouTube. (2011). How to Utilize Social Media Tools for Your Company. Retrieved June 19, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgm7HX4gS7A

Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Basics of Self-Releasing your Music Album

The Basics of Self-Releasing your Music Album

You’ve finished the album and now you’re ready to release it. But before you start, it is important to know how independent musicians sell their music, how it works, and what are the pros and cons of choosing each option. By researching, you can develop your own opinion and choose which one is best for the direction you are seeking with your music. These are some of the helpful tips I learn along my journey of self-releasing two independent albums.

Tip number #1 is to be accessible. You have to look at your product just as you would any other major product. If you sell ketchup you should want your brand of ketchup to be in every store that sells ketchup. Your ultimate goal is to make it possible for people to find, whenever they are searching for your type of music, especially at their preferred store, but also at a specific location for your fans. There are several digital stores being created monthly. A select few will succeed, while others will be force to shut down. Stay alert for the best ones and stay true to those that best suit your music and audience.

Tip number #2 is to have an impressive website. Your website should be just as unique and intriguing as your music. Providing great content such as new music snippets, live video performances and a personal blog will ensure that your fans will spend time on your site learning more about you and becoming a bigger fan. Also provide access for your fans to purchase your music directly from your site or sites where they can download your music.

Tip number #3 is to be interactive. The rise of the computer age has brought fourth a new way of socialization. Because of the type of technology we have today, it is very easy to build a fan base by building a strong presence on the top social networking sites. According to eBizmba.com the top three sites are listed as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, which are all great resources for building fan base and great business connections. After setting up accounts on these sites, it is very important that you stay connected and post frequently. The more you post and share with your fans, the more involved they become in being apart of your journey.

My last and final tip, number #4, is to research and read. Technology changes daily and it is important to grow within the industry and grow with your fan-base. As we discover these new technologies, research them and become apart of the movement. As I mentioned above, being accessible is very important. The only way to truly be accessible is to know all the avenues possible for maximum exposure.

eBIZMBA. (2011) Top 15 Most Popular Social Networking Websites. Retrieved June 18, 2011 http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/social-networking-websites