By Sarah Garcia

Pinterest says it right on their website: Promote your business on Pinterest! They want you to. And a Pinterest campaign or contest can be a great way to generate interest in your product or services.

But even with Pinterest’s welcoming attitude to business promotions, you still have rules to follow. And the No. 1 rule is to avoid the appearance that Pinterest is sponsoring or is affiliated with your promotion.

After that, there are a few other points to keep in mind when planning and executing a Pinterest promotion. You’ll find a distinct list of Do’s and Don’ts on the Pinterest for Business website, under “Promotions and Marketing.” We’ll walk you through them.

Pinterest Promotion Do’s

• DO make your promotion easy to understand and enter. This is at the top of the list, because it’s one of the most important points we share with our clients. If you want folks to enter your contest, you have to make it simple and clear.
• DO review Pinterest’s branding guidelines first if your contest will mention Pinterest in any way. That link also includes good information about proper use of their logo.
• DO make sure your contest or promotion rewards quality rather than quantity. It’s not how much you can pin, but how good your content is. Pinterest wants its users to discover and be inspired by new things and promotes sharing of quality content and innovative ideas.

Pinterest Promotion Don’ts

• DON’T make users pin your contest rules. Seriously. Pinterest is not joking with this one. Don’t do it.
• DON’T make pinning, repining, liking or following the means of “entry” into your contest.
• DON’T ask followers to vote by pinning, repining, etc.
• DON’T ask contest participants to comment or encourage any spammy behavior.
• DON’T require users to pin from a particular selection. Let them pin what they want.
• DON’T require users to pin a certain number of pins. One will do! Remember, quality, not quantity.
• DON’T make it seem like Pinterest is endorsing your company or your contest.

Pinterest gives another simple piece of advice: DON’T overdo it. Contests can get old fast, and you may wind up turning people away from your boards instead of enticing them to follow you. Pinterest also wants you to know this: if you use Pinterest for your contest, you’re responsible for any legal requirements. This includes writing official rules, terms, and eligibility requirements. In other words, cover yourself because Pinterest will not. The site is not liable in any way.

Our Advice for a Successful Promotion

We didn’t scare you, did we? Pinterest campaigns and contests can be fantastically creative and a lot of fun for you and the participants. These tips will help you get off to the best start:

• Cross-promote your contest off of Pinterest to attract new followers. Try tweets, blog posts, Facebook advertisements or website updates.
• Make sure your prize is appealing. No one’s likely to jump through hoops for tacky swag with your company logo.
• Make it visually appealing. After all, that is what Pinterest is all about.
• Test it on mobile. Very important! Consumers are spending more time on social (mobile) apps than ever before. According to Nielsen’s State of The Media: The Social Media Report 2012, consumers have increased their social app time by 76 percent since 2012.

So, why use Pinterest for your next contest? It’s the third most popular social networking site and has more than 48.7 million users. Using it for your contest will bring you more than just new followers. It can increase traffic to your site, promote greater brand awareness, make your content go viral, and even increase sales.

What Pinterest campaigns have you enjoyed?

Sarah Garcia is a writer and community manager for BallywhoSocial. Find her on Twitter @SaTorrens or follow our BallywhoSocial account for social media tips, news and more @BallywhoSocial.

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The financial industry prides itself on privacy and security, which makes embracing social media seem counterintuitive. But writing off this online phenomenon could be a costly mistake. Wondering how Twitter, Facebook, or Google+ can work for financial institutions? Try these approaches to get banks on social media.

• Encourage the creation of savings or retirement accounts. Everyone knows they need one, and a little push could be all someone needs to finally take that step with your institution. Social media is an excellent platform to persuade your audience to start saving for their future today, and you don’t have to do it as a dry financial lecture. Beautiful photos showing how you can spend your retirement make shareable content that gets your message across and humanizes a bank.
• Spread the word about your promotions. Are you offering a cash bonus for new accounts? Create a tab on your Facebook page that highlights your promotion and refers back to your web site.
• Share financial advice with your customers. Tips on how to save money benefit both you and your customers. Get creative! Try designing and posting an infographic about how much you could save in a year by skipping your daily coffee run.
• Build a trustworthy reputation. In today’s market, authenticity is an important part of gaining a consumer’s trust. Social media allows banks and other financial institutions to interact with customers and be seen as an authority in the field of personal and business finance.
• Provide customer support. Many customers would rather ask questions in a social media setting instead of calling or emailing a business. Your online availability could transform their banking experience.
• Listen for feedback. In the financial industry, the opinion of the public can make or break your success. It’s important to find dissatisfied customers and resolve their complaints quickly. Using social media, your reputation is easy to monitor, and you have a built-in platform for addressing any issues.

If you work in the financial industry, how have you used social media to advance your professional goals? Share your tips for banks on social media  in the comments, or tweet them to our Twitter account: @BallywhoSocial.

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By Brittany Shaw

Twitter’s Vine app is a fun and addictive way to experiment with videos, but we’re always curious when a new app or tool arrives if it will prove useful in social media marketing. We’re starting to see signs that businesses can use Vine for marketing in ways that could pay off down the road.

Vine is a six-second video that loops as long as you hover over it. You can embed the videos in your tweets, share them on other channels or just watch them in a news feed on the app itself. The best ones act as a tease to make the audience want more — or, in the case of businesses, use your product or service.

Sounds great, right? Besides, many of us have a short attention span anyway.

How Can It Help Market Your Brand?
Vine is one of the fastest-growing apps — which means it could help you reach an untapped audience. One recent study showed that branded Vines were shared four times as often as branded Internet videos. Let’s look at a few companies who “totally get” what they are doing when it comes to Vine-ing (yeah, I’m going to use it as a verb).

Dove:
Dove’s first Vine video post is playful and fun but still displays a variety of body wash products, including a cameo from a bar of soap! While it doesn’t push what it’s selling, Dove shows personality that makes a large company feel more relatable.

Malibu Rum:
The Vine feed for Malibu is great. Food and drinks are a natural fit for videos, and the Malibu videos have fun while marketing the product they are selling. Their first-ever Vine video they posted, they got straight to the point, leaving you (or, maybe just me) feeling a little thirsty:

Lowe’s:
The social media folks at Lowe’s officially get Vine. Their videos are full of at-home tips (accompanied by the hashtag #lowesfixinsix) that manage to be practical and irreverant. Got a dirty baking sheet? They will show you how to fix it. How about a messy closet? Well, they show you how to clean that up too:

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By Elissa Nauful

Turn yourself into a social media rockstar — and snag $10,000 for your favorite charity.

Nothing wrong with that, right?

That’s the premise behind Social Madness, a challenge The Business Journals run to unearth companies regionally and nationally whose social media programs shine. Last year, the competition was all about who could increase their followers by the most, with no recognition for actually engaging those followers. When we tried it out locally in 2012 to see how it worked, we noticed suspiciously fast jumps in followers and unsavory tactics among a few Tampa Bay competitors.

This year, the competition is back. Now engagement is part of its algorithm to measure success — a nod to what’s really important when you’re dealing with social media. But the change can’t address the central problem of the contest itself.

Social media is not a gimmick, a fad or a competition. It’s a strategy for communication, social care and curation. That’s something that develops with careful planning, staffing and analysis of your message and who you’re trying to reach.

Here’s where “Social Madness” falls short:

• It doesn’t encourage businesses to look at what platforms are good fits. “Social Madness” focuses on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn. All or none of them might work for you. Instagram or Pinterest could pay off in ways you’d never see on Twitter. You need to decide where your company needs to be, not where contest rules tell you to be.
• It can’t assess balance in content. “Social Madness” will reward you for your posts likes, comments and shares. So if you post cat memes and mouthwatering food pictures every day, you could pull ahead of the business who mixes up the funny stuff with content that is actually useful or informative.
• It doesn’t recognize customer service. Social media isn’t all about pushing your product. It can be a valuable way to communicate with your customers, right wrongs and answer questions. Does someone monitor your page regularly, including after business hours? Do you have a protocol for how you respond to them?
• It’s not serious. Yes, social media management requires humor, personality and authenticity. But let’s not forget that it’s a powerful platform where mistakes live on, even if you delete them. Make sure everyone who posts on your behalf knows the expectations and what to do if something goes awry.

Starting in June, businesses involved in “Social Madness” will plunge into social media for 11 weeks. Expect a flurry of posts and tweets begging for your votes on bizjournal.com as everyone tries to rack up high enough scores to progress through the competition.

And then what? If you want to do social media well, do yourself a favor and take time now to ask yourself the hard questions about what you are trying to accomplish and where you’ll take your pages once the Madness ends. We think it’s worthwhile to develop a strategy and not leave your sites abandoned until the next round of competition. That’s not very social, after all.

Elissa Nauful is the founder and CEO of BallywhoSocial. Follow her on Twitter @elissan and keep up with the latest on social media @BallywhoSocial.

The post What’s Wrong with “Social Madness” appeared first on BallywhoSocial.

Done well, a social media presence can be a great way to connect with current and potential customers, resolve problems, promote new products and spread the word about your successes. Handled poorly, your social sites can become a ghost town of unanswered questions and spam, giving the impression that you don’t care about your audience and can’t keep up with technology.

This blog will provide you with 10 tips to make your business socially savvy. In it, you will learn:

• What voice to use when communicating on social platforms
• How to build a base of followers
• What platforms to join
• Ways to manage your time as you monitor and create content

Whether you are brand-new to social media or you’re considering going social and don’t know where to start, we can help you make the best choices for a social media presence that separates you from your competitors. Fill out the form below to begin downloading the guide now.

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Social media serves few businesses better than those involved in the travel industry. It’s very nature – quick, mobile, and weightless – is perfectly suited for someone living out of a suitcase and jumping from city to city. Tap into this valuable resource to reach your target audience, no matter where they’re hanging their hats this week. Here are a few reasons why you’re missing out if you don’t plug in now!

• Your promotions can go global. Social media isn’t restrained by location. Your online presence could bring in an audience from anywhere in the world. The potential is limitless!
• Travelers use the internet to make their arrangements. According to Media Bistro, a staggering 87 percent of travel plans are made online. If you’re invisible, you’re losing out on a lot of business.
• Nothings sells a vacation better than stunning photography. And Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram offer great ways to get those images circulating while driving traffic back to your site.
• Word-of-mouth sells. Today’s traveler places a lot of trust in the opinions of his online community. The more likes, shares, and retweets you receive, the more customers will choose you over the competition. You can also use social to provide stellar customer service — respond to questions and any complaints quickly and politely, and you will earn respect.
• Your audience won’t take a vacation from their social media accounts. Many people actually use social media more while they travel than while they’re at home. They want to share their pictures and experiences as they happen – so you aren’t losing anyone’s attention while they’re on the road. You’re actually more connected than ever!

Have you created a community of world explorers around your brand? Make sure you’ve connected with @BallywhoSocial on Twitter. If you have a travel-oriented business, we’ll help you develop the strategy you need to succeed in social media.

The post Why the Travel Industry Can’t Miss With Social appeared first on BallywhoSocial.

LinkedIn gives its members the opportunity to put their professional lives online. Unlike Facebook or Instagram, you won’t find a lot of cat pictures, e-card jokes, or political rants in your LinkedIn news feed. Many of its users rely on the system to maintain their professional network, host an online version of their resume, and connect with new job opportunities or clients.

CEOs may approach LinkedIn with different motives than the average user, but they will still enjoy a host of benefits from the social media site. Consider these reasons to start your account today.

• It will assist you when making hiring decisions. When you have an open position to fill, LinkedIn makes it easy to browse qualified professionals in your field. LinkedIn profiles often include a detailed work history, education, a list of skills, and even samples of the individual’s work.
• You’ll keep close connections with your clients. You know the value of your professional network. How much work do you put in to maintain relationships with past and present clients? LinkedIn can preserve important connections that may otherwise fade over time.
• Outsourcing will be quicker and easier. When you need a freelancer or subject matter expert, LinkedIn is one of the best places to turn. Many self-employed professionals seek work through the social media site. It won’t take long to find someone with the right experience and glowing recommendations.
• You can research potential clients before making a pitch. Have an important meeting coming up? Do a quick search for the key players on LinkedIn. You may find new ways to tailor your approach for them.
• You’ll stay updated on industry news. LinkedIn hosts community groups for every industry, along with groups exclusively for CEOs.

You can find more tips on managing your presence online when you follow @BallywhoSocial on Twitter!

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By Courtney Cairns Pastor

For many of us, the least important thing we do on our smartphones is talk on the phone itself. We love them for their cameras, their GPS, their quick access to any fact we may need on the fly. And of course, we love them for checking in on social sites.

Half of the total U.S. population uses smartphones, according to an IDC study Facebook recently sponsored. That’s expected to climb to nearly 60 percent this year. Seventy percent of people surveyed use Facebook on their phones.

What these stats and habits mean is that mobile is already important, and its role in our daily interactions will continue to increase. If Facebook wants to stay at the top of the heap on mobile, it needs to keep adjusting. We saw this in the release of Facebook Home, and efforts continue with updates for users and, this week, a revamp of business Pages.

Brand Pages on Facebook mobile now appear cleaner and more streamlined, and it’s easier to find basic information about the business. Actions, hours, ratings and maps are prominent. It’s a challenge to Yelp. The user-friendly content gets top billing — to see the actual updates on the page, you have to scroll down.

If you are a Page manager, how does this affect you?

First, get familiar with the “Admin” and “Public” views. You can toggle between both. The Admin panel lets you write a post, share a photo and view the most recent post. Swipe to the bottom, and you can go straight into your Page Manager App. You’ll see if there are any notifications or messages. Easy and convenient.

Now, the Public view. Spend some time here, because it will change how you think about your content. You’ll notice right away the map, basic information about your business, recommendations and photos. Where did these photos come from? They’re photos people tagged but may not have ever appeared on your Page’s desktop version. If you have a restaurant and someone takes a picture of their dinner and tags it with their location, you’ll see it in this feed.

Some tips to improve your page’s appearance on Facebook mobile:

• Fill out as much of the basic information as you can. Because it has such a prominent role, make sure your hours, location, web site links, contact information and description is accurate and up to date.
• Pin photos you like. “Pin to top” is a nice feature on the desktop but crucial on mobile. When you pin something, it will appear just below the likes and check-ins. It gives you some control over your content, too, to make sure positive photos or posts get attention.
• Encourage recommendations. Unless you pin a post, the recommendations now appear before any of your updates. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that people who go to your Page saw raves — timely ones — instead of outdated praise or, even worse, gripes?
• Feature a great cover photo. It’s the first thing you see on mobile. Make it good. Need ideas? Check our blog post.

This won’t be the end of changes. Facebook Product Design Manager Jasper Hauser told Fast Company that the company is just getting started with its mobile options and more specialization may be coming. The mobile changes also have Facebook thinking about what to do with desktop versions. Stay tuned.

The new Pages design for Facebook is available on mobile browsers and iOS apps now and coming soon to Android.

Courtney Cairns Pastor is a writer and community manager for BallywhoSocial. You can find her on Twitter @courtneycp or follow our BallywhoSocial account for social media tips, news and more @BallywhoSocial.

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