What does it take to go viral?
This recent video from Salesforce.com covers what it takes for your content to spread as well as the formula for success. The video also includes a checklist marketers can use to increase their likelihood of going viral.
This Week in Online Marketing News
“Getting Socially Optimized with Mobile Marketing” As mobile marketing continues to expand marketers are still searching for the best way to reach their audience through the development of applications for smart phones, ads, and mobile optimized websites. This article provides some insight into the benefits and challenges of a mobile marketing strategy. Via BtoB Magazine.
“How Twitter is Pairing It’s Interest Graph With Ads” While Facebook’s social graph provides information on connections, likes, and demographic data Twitter is taking a different approach. Twitter’s interest graph will focus more on users likes, what they read, and generally what topics they are interested in. Via Techcrunch.
“Facebook Revamps Pages For Businesses” In order to create consistency between profiles and pages, Facebook has now rolled out the new timeline for branded pages. Facebook is encouraging businesses to make the shift from pure advertising to storytelling and hopes that the new timeline will push companies to make the transition. The TopRank Marketing Facebook Page recently rolled out the updated timeline, what do you think? Via the brainyard.
“Foursquare Says Farewell to Google Maps, Joins OpenStreetMap Movement” Foursquare has decided to part ways with Google Maps saying that “as a startup, we also often think about how we can make life easier for other startups.” Curious to know why Foursquare chose this particular product? Via Mashable.
“Posting From Pinterest To Your Facebook Fan Page” Tabfusion recently released a Facebook app that allows users to display their “pins” to their Facebook page. The company shares that once Pinterest releases their application-programming interface there will be further integration. Be sure to take a look at the clever cartoon attached to the bottom of the article. Via Marketaire.
“12 important steps bloggers should never forget” Writing a blog is a serious commitment. Many bloggers get wrapped up in creating the content and forget some very simple optimization and promotional steps. This article provides some good insight into steps that bloggers should incorporate into their blogging routine. Via ragan.
TopRank Team: Search & Social News
Brian Larson – Google Images Adds Previews to Related Searches
Let’s face it, some searches are just inherently more intent on visual content. Google gets it and is making access to relevant images even more convenient. For businesses, this update reinforces the importance of optimizing images as part of an overall online marketing strategy. Via Search Engine Watch.
Shawna Kenyon – Clock counts down as Google privacy change looms
Google’s new privacy change is their solution for combining 60 privacy policies for different services. For some Google users this change is unfavorable as there is no way to “opt-out”. However for those who favor all of Google’s services this will be a way for the user to be presented with content that is similar to what they are already looking for. Google continues to reaffirm its commitment to preserving privacy stating the change will only serve to “simplify” the user experience. Via Cnet.
Alexis Hall – msnNow Is Driving More Traffic To Bing, But Is It Artificially Inflating Searches?
msnNOW, a new service which aggregates content around trending topics, launched just two weeks ago, but already seems to be having an effect on Bing traffic numbers. While new traffic to Bing has jumped in the past two weeks, this post suggests that those numbers may be inflated due to how msnNOW links are structured. We’ll have to keep an eye on this trend to determine how search engine market share may shift, as well as how msnNOW may impact the search and social landscape. Via Search Engine Land.
Ken Horst – LinkedIn Launches Follow Company Button
Here is something every company with a Linkedin profile should jump on right away. According to execs at LinkedIn, there is a finite limit to how many brands people will follow per channel. Companies that drag their feet with the LinkedIn “follow company” button may find it more difficult to find willing followers later in the year. Via AdWeek.
Time to weigh in: Do you consider the new Facebook timeline for businesses a positive or negative change? What impact do you think this will have on your business? Have you integrated mobile marketing into your online marketing strategy? What have been the results?