Blog

As social media professionals, we’re used to thinking about how people are interacting with social media. Are they tweeting during TV shows? Are they using Instagram to capture their entrées at restaurants? These questions, however, leave out a key piece: thewhy that created these habits initially. And, if you’ve forgotten that why, your communities may be suffering. Help get back on track by answering these questions and going beyond how they’re using social media to interact with you. →

To the beginner, freelancing sounds like the perfect gig: you set your own hours, define your own contracts, and name your own price. Though freelancing is a great option for supplementing full-time income or building a better reputation as a social media professional, it’s also an important learning experience that will make you better at business. Here’s how. →

As social media as an industry continues to grow, several of my peers (and even myself) have asked questions about where community management as a function and a position is heading in the not too distant future. From the scattered responses I’ve observed, it seems as though there’s no concrete path carved out, and it also appears as though many people aren’t having this conversation on a more open stage. So, I’m going to attempt to tackle a few of these questions, based on what I’ve learned & listened to. The following questions are both what I’ve asked, and been asked →

You’ve probably noticed that infographics have become pretty trendy. Though you may not be able to scroll through your feed without stumbling on a few, the nature behind why they’ve become so popular is important – especially for your online content, social or otherwise. →

Tech companies are sprouting in every direction, and as a whole, our professional scene is bursting. From video game studios to interactive agencies, artists to chefs, Philadelphia is the place to be. We have thousands of students graduating from Philadelphia institutions every year. Hundreds of entrepreneurs are starting their own businesses. We don’t need to move to other cities with bigger skylines to lead innovation; we have the means to do it right here in Philly, and 2013 is our year to do it. →

Facebook’s Promoted Posts are a great option for anyone who has a tight social media budget, or who wants to supplement a Facebook ad campaign by promoting a specific initiative. Despite whether you believe Facebook’s out to get your money or not, these paid one-offs can give the right amount of boost to your page and its content… if you use them to their fullest potential. →

When it comes to Facebook, for many of us, engagement rates are down. Post virality is down. Organic growth is painfully slow. If you’re going to save your brand from the throes of Facebook purgatory, you’re going to have to level up your current game. →

One of the things that’s kept me busy during my community management days has been attempting to profile the various types of Facebook fans. And while fans are each unique (since they’re all different people), many of their behaviors fall into certain patterns. Here are the 5 most common types of Facebook fans that I’ve seen while managing communities, and how you can tailor your content to keep them. →

I’ve wanted an iPad for some time, but I’ve had to prioritize my spending, and haven’t purchased one yet. I jokingly tweeted last week that Apple should send me one for free, since this event coincides with my birthday. While Apple is, at this point, seemingly light years beyond that kind of customer acquisition and retention, wouldn’t it be cool if they actually did it? Or, if more big brands did it in general? →

I originally set out to find the biggest pet peeves people have regarding social media. However, I received one response that brought about a very important point, and it got me thinking. @platypusjones (Erich) said, with no ill intent, that his biggest pet peeve was watching people talk about social media on social media. And I have to give it to him: it makes more and more sense as I think about it. →