Recently, Delta Airlines took their fans on a journey behind the scenes of Delta check-in counters. They installed six cameras inside a checked luggage bag and filmed the bag’s journey to promote the new luggage tracking feature of their Fly Delta mobile app. Watch the video “Behind-The-Scenes: Your Bag’s Journey on Delta” here. This new video and mobile app promotion is a great example of how a behind the scenes video can appeal to your fans and help promote your brand.

1. Fans love insider information. Any time you can give your fans an insider’s look at your company or brand, you will capture their attention. Fans like to feel like they know you and your company. A behind the scenes video like Delta’s luggage journey helps educate, inform, and show your fans what life is really like at your company. If fans feel like they know and trust you, they become a champion of your business.

2. Fans are busy people too. You are not the only one always on the go. Creating a mobile app for your fans like, Fly Delta, is a perfect way to connect with fans in a hurry. If your fans can search your mobile site and connect with you remotely from a mobile app, they will be back later to browse your full website. Creating a quick, easy to use, mobile site will increase your fan base and ultimately your sales goals.

3. The fastest way to increase your fan base is to appease their number one fear. Delta knows that the first thought in everyone’s mind when they board a plane is, “did my bag make it on the plane?” By unleashing the luggage tracking feature of their mobile app, they can reassure their fans and make travelling a more pleasant experience. How can you make life easier for your own fans?

4. Demonstrate how much you value your fans’ feedback by listening to their comments. Delta received numerous comments and feedback about how to improve their mobile app. They listened and rolled out a feature that their fans requested. If you listen to your fans and make practical improvements, they will continue to invest in your brand.

5. Make connecting with your other products or services seamless. Delta’s mobile app requires an Internet connection, so Delta provides GoGo Inflight Internet services. Passengers can also access all of Delta’s other upgrades and perks if they join the Delta Sky Club. If you provide one great product or service, make it simple for fans to connect with your other products and services. Happy fans will connect with your brand at a higher rate than fans frustrated by cumbersome technology.

Want more fans on your Facebook page or visitors to your blog? Try running a Facebook contest!  Most people like to win prizes and many will participate in a contest if the reward is significant.

Facebook contests are great for building buzz about your brand and for making your content visible in the news feed of your fans. The more times your content is seen in the news feed, the more opportunities you have to garner more fans. Offering a great prize is also a perfect way to draw in new people to like your page.

However, there are some important rules to keep in mind about conducting a contest or sweepstakes on Facebook. The first is that the contest must be administered through a third-party app. There are companies out there who will do it for you, such as Wildfire or Strutta, or you can use your own iFrame through an app like Static HTML. On the other hand, if you’re giving away a free ebook or coupon code, and EVERYONE gets one, it’s ok to promote that on your Timeline.

Promotions on Facebook must also include an acknowledgment that it is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You also can not just have people like your page to automatically be entered to win. There must be additional steps involved, such as filling out an entry form.  To view the complete rules, visit Facebook’s guidelines page.

Creating WOW recently helped one of our clients, Arborpoint Apartments, with a Facebook contest. The prize was a $200 American Express Gift Card. To enter the contest, you had to say why you loved living at Arborpoint in 60 characters or less. Fans had one week to submit entries, and one more week to vote for their favorite entry. The Facebook post with the most “likes” won the prize.

The contest generated 38 new likes to Arborpoint’s page, and 941 visits to the page during the campaign. In addition, 2,262 unique users on Facebook saw content associated with the page, and Arborpoint had more than 13,000 content impressions. The contest was also promoted on Arborpoint’s blog, and during that time traffic to the blog doubled.

If you’d like help planning a contest for your Facebook page, contact Creating WOW Communications today.

Tweeting is a great way to keep your fans informed about what is going on at your company. Twitter is also a perfect platform for engaging your fans in conversations about your brand, products, and services. However, sometimes a tweet can cost your company big bucks, as Panther Racing owner John Barnes found out. His tweet, “Today is the day to resolve TURBOGATE! I hope (at)indcar gets their act together. It has been embarrassing,” cost him $25,000. IndyCar fined Barnes $25,000 and placed him on probation until Dec. 31 for using “improper or disparaging language in reference to IndyCar,” according to USA Today. Here are 3 tips for avoiding costly tweet faux pas on your social media networks.

1. Remember that social media networks are social. Tweets, updates, Facebook posts, likes, etc. are public unless you set your privacy preferences to block posts from being seen by the general public. This means anyone can read your posts, tweets, etc. not just your fans. Social networks are a great place to promote your company and engage with fans. They are not a private platform to voice grievances. If you wouldn’t want your boss, co-workers, associates, mom, etc. to read what you are posting, then don’t post it.

2. Keep your posts, updates and tweets brand appropriate. Use engaging, positive language to draw in your fans. Avoid complaining, whining, or attacking your competitors or other brands. Use discretion and the golden rule when posting on your social networks. If you want someone to say nice things about you and your brand, then say nice things about others. Your social networks should be a positive place where fans can engage with you and your company without feeling like they will be attacked or belittled for their opinions.

3. Content reigns supreme. Your fans are interested in the content posted on your social networks. Unless you are Lady Gaga, your fans are not interested in your personal opinions. Posting engaging content that sparks conversation among your fans will ultimately increase your fan base. Interesting content usually increases your chance for re-tweets, likes, +1s, etc.

Have other tips for avoiding embarrassing social media faux pas? Share them with me in the comments below or on Facebook!

1. Treating the Mobile Device as a Mini-Computer – One common mistake a business makes is thinking their website will translate to a small screen intact. Mobile sites usually require major design modifications. Fonts and colors may have to be adjusted for readability. Large images or videos may take too long to load, and will need to be scaled back or eliminated altogether. Information may need to be shifted around the screen to display properly.

2. Failing to Understand Your Audience - Most mobile users are in a hurry, so they don’t have time to read a lot of text on your site. You need to think about who will access your info via a phone and make adjustments. Streamline your content, so visitors can quickly access the information they desire. Mobile sites aren’t generally used for extensive browsing and searching, so keep your audience’s goal in mind when designing your mobile site.

Regardless of your political affiliations in the upcoming election, the Moms for Mitt Facebook Page demonstrates a great way to increase fan engagement and participation. The Moms for Mitt page capitalized on the media storm surrounding the “war on women” and the comment from Hilary Rosen about Ann Romney. The page attracted more than 70,000 fans in four days and continues to grow in popularity. Below are 4 of the many reasons Moms for Mitt successfully engages with their Facebook fans across the nation.  How do you successfully engage with your online fan base?  Share your tips and ideas with me in the comments below or on the Creating WOW Facebook page.

1. Ask for participation. Each post asks for a comment or a share. If you want your fans to engage with your content, ask them. The Moms for Mitt Facebook page asked fans to submit responses about why they supported Mitt. Thousands of fans responded. Ask and you shall receive.

2. Feature your fans. This Facebook page also features the fans of the page. Fans submit pictures of their family and why they support Ann Romney or other Moms for Mitt. Pictures are then posted on the page with their story for other fans to like, comment and share. Fans connect with each other and enjoy supporting the community and themselves. Let fans provide valuable testimonials in their own words to show their support.

3. Graphics tell the story. The Moms for Mitt page posts many pictures, graphics, and videos that support their brand and cause. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, how many words is a compelling video worth? In an ever-changing visual world, pictures and videos are extremely important to help tell your brand story.

4. Content is key. If you want your fans to engage with you online, you have to provide compelling content. Hot topics like the election always elicit strong responses from fans on both sides. If you tackle, hot button topics like the election and the “war on women” then remember to keep your content brand appropriate and civil.

How did we ever do business before the smart phone? It’s hard to imagine anymore! It seems like every week there’s another new app to help sales people become more productive. Here are the top 6 apps your sales team should have on their smart phones to do business more efficiently.

1. GoToMeeting – The mobile version of the desktop web-conferencing tool allows you to start online meetings, view presentations and reports. The app is free to download with a paid subscription to the PC or Mac version. Available for iPhone, iPad and Android.

2. CamCard – Tired of collecting stacks of business cards after a networking meeting? CamCard saves the contact information, allows you to group contacts for easy follow-up, make notes and search LinkedIn. The app works with all smart phones including Android and Blackberry. It costs $6.99 with a free trial.

3. DocScan / Document Scanner – DocScan for iPhone or Document Scanner for Android make it easy to scan documents and receipts and convert them into PDF files. Email the PDF or upload it to services like Google Docs, EverNote or DropBox.

4. Keynote / Slide Rocket – Keynote ($9.99 for iPhone) is a handy tool that enables you to create interactive presentations on the go. You can view and edit presentations made on Keynote ’09 or Microsoft PowerPoint. Simply plug your phone into a projector and HDTV when you’re ready to start your speech and watch the images appear. Slide Rocket (Free/Lite, $24 Pro for Android) is similar to PowerPoint, except that it is web based rather than software based. It also allows you to create and share presentations, and is especially useful when collaborating with coworkers in another location.

5. SalesForce – This is perhaps the best known Customer Relationship Management app available for iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Windows Mobile. If you already use this software in your office, you can use your smart phone to access all of your information in real time, respond to new leads and communicate with everyone back at the office. Other popular CRM apps to consider are SuperOffice and Bridge2CRM.

6. ParkMobile –  How much time have you wasted on parking during a sales call? With ParkMobile, you can activate a parking session and get a text message 15 minutes before your session is up. Since you pay for the exact time you park, you’ll save money, and keep better track of your spending, since the app lets you print receipts for expense reports. Free for iPhone, Android and Blackberry

What other smart phone apps have you found useful for business?

If no one comments on your business blog, is it successful? It’s sort of like the old question, “if a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?” One of the key ways to turn blog readers into blog buyers of your product or service is to engage with your reader through comments. Here are seven ways to encourage your readers to respond to your blog articles:

1. Ask!  - This is the simplest, but most overlooked step of blog writers. Make it a point to ask for comments at the end of your blog article. People respond to requests.

2. Seek opinions – Ask questions of your audience. Even adding a simple question at the end of your article like, “Do you agree?” can be enough to elicit a response.

3. Comment on comments – When someone does take the time to comment, be sure to respond! It shows the reader that you’re listening and value the time it took them to comment on your blog. The more often you respond, the more often your readers return and comment again.

4. Be personal – Don’t be afraid to show some personality in your blog articles. A blog is part of social media. When you can come off as a “real person,” your readers are more inclined to “like and trust you” and willing to comment.

5. Be controversial – It’s okay to stir the pot from time to time too. Take a bold stand, be contrarian in your articles. Don’t be this way in every article, but a little controversy doesn’t hurt! Keep your hot button topic posts clean, professional, and relevant to your brand.

6. Make it a game – Offer a reward for commenting on an article. Social Media Examiner does this effectively, by offering free tickets to its annual Social Media Success Summit to someone who comments on their blog. In 2011, this contest generated 129 comments. So far this year, they have 164!

7. Publish unfinished content – One reason your readers may not comment is that there is nothing left to say! Publish an open-ended post from time to time. When you share an idea, don’t think through the whole concept. Let your readers share their thoughts by inviting them into the discussion.

What tips for encouraging blog comments would you add to this list? Please share them in the comment box below!

Almost every week  some marketing pundit declares email is dead or dying because of social media. However, reality is quite different. Email is alive and kicking. Most people still check it every day, either on their computers or mobile devices.

Social media, meanwhile, is a highly effective tool for sales people to connect with prospects through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and even Pinterest (now the third most popular social networking site in the U.S.). But a savvy sales person knows that if you want to nurture your leads more effectively, social media and email should be integrated.

When your emails are shared through social networks, you have greater potential for opens, clicks, and conversions. Plus, most email service providers include metrics on who has shared your emails most often. You can then send dedicated emails to those influencers. The more shares your email receives, the greater more your list will grow.

Here are a few tips for integrating email with social media for effective lead generation:

1. Include social icons in emails. Make it easy for your email subscribers to share your content by prominently displaying social icons in your correspondence.

2. Ask subscribers to share and connect. Social icons aren’t always enough, so ask your subscribers to share your material.  It can be as simple as including the words “share this” next to your social icons.

3. Send a dedicated social campaign. If social icons and asking for shares still hasn’t done the trick, you’ll have to up the ante and send an email that’s focused on a particular social network, such as Facebook or Twitter. Just make sure to include a reason WHY your subscribers should connect with you on these networks.

4. Provide incentives. Sometimes your subscribers need a little extra incentive to connect with you. Consider offering a discount or special privilege, such as being featured in your next newsletter.

5. Promote email via social networks. Invite your social network followers to join your email list.  You can tweet a link to join your list on Twitter or create a custom app on Facebook with an opt-in form. Don’t forget to include an opt-in form on your blog too!

Have you seen the new Hunger Games movie? Have you read the trilogy by Suzanne Collins? Are you caught up in the hype and buzz surrounding the movie and books? The movie by Lionsgate has become a huge success, raking in more than $214 million on opening weekend. What prompted the overwhelming success of this young-adult story following a teenage girl as she competes in a “kill or be killed” reality program? The savvy use of social media networks definitely helped to boost the movie’s success.

The Hunger Games’ social networking platforms draws fans in and creates a space for fans to share and participate in the fictional “Capitol” world created by Collins. By successfully engaging a massive fan base, Lionsgate created buzz and excitement about the upcoming movies. Of course their engaged fans wanted to see the new movies! Using the Hunger Games as inspiration for your own social media networks and fans, how can you create the same insatiable hunger for your own products and services?

Instead of building a website promoting the book trilogy, the marketing team built a website that brought the world of the Hunger Games to life. At the Capitol Network, fans can register for a District Identification Pass. Registering at the website means you will be assigned a District, occupation, and allowed access to all of the social media pages. While movie pages and Twitter pages are not member specific, to see the content on the District fan pages, fans must first like the page or be a member of the Capitol Network. Now that fans can join their District’s social networks, they are asked to participate and engage with the available content.

Each of the 12 Districts from the movie and books has their own Facebook fan page. Fans of the pages receive updates about the movies, books, events, etc. and can also run for Mayor of their District. The Facebook pages also have tabs for “The Square” where fans can keep up with fashion from “Capitol Couture” and more. The pages also never break character, so fans feel like they are part of the world created in the Hunger Games.

Part of the campaign’s success was also the mystery the marketing created. Throughout all of the social media posts, websites, and previews fans never actually saw what the Hunger Games looked like. Essentially, there were no spoilers. If you really wanted to see what everyone was talking about, you actually had to go see the movie. You want to give your fans just enough information so they want to know more. If you give all of your content, products, or services away for free, then your fans have no reason to actually participate or engage with you.

Facebook pages experienced a makeover to the timeline format. With this change, several new features will help admins engage their fans and enhance their business on Facebook. Some of these changes will require some getting used to, but if you embrace the new format, it will be a lot easier for you to build your following and ultimately generate new business.

Here are a few of the ways you can use the new timeline format for your company:

1. Cover Photo – The most noticeable change to pages involves the new, large cover photo at the top of the page. This image is 851 x 315 pixels wide, so take advantage of this new real estate to graphically demonstrate your brand to your audience. There are some restrictions however. Facebook says the image must be at least 399 pixels wide and may not contain:

• Price or purchase information, such as “40% off” or “Download it at our website”
• Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page’s About section
• References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features
• Calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends”

2. Pinning Posts – Facebook will now let you “pin” a post to the top of your page for 7 days. If your page is running a contest or special, this is a good way to keep that information top of mind to your fans. Another tactic to try is to pin an older post that got a lot of engagement. If it was successful in the past, odds are it will be successful again. Remember – the more people interact with your page, the more it will be seen in the news feed, giving your content the chance to be seen and liked by more people.

3. Apps vs. Landing tabs – One feature that page owners may not like about timeline is the fact that you cannot have a default landing tab anymore. The wall is the main view for your page. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use your old landing tab, (which are now called apps by the way!). You just have to be more creative about it! Each tab comes with its own unique URL. If you want someone to see your landing tab, you’ll need to include that URL in your post – whether that’s on Facebook itself, on other social networking sites, in your emails, etc.

4. Customizing apps – In the old page format, you could see all of your apps (formerly called tabs) on the left hand side of the wall. In the timeline view, you can have 12 apps, but by default, only 4 will be visible. The first app will always be your photos, but the other three can be any app you choose. You can feature page likes, an email opt-in form, videos, or any other app you like. The nice thing about this is that you can customize the image and name of these apps. (Except for the Facebook-only apps: photos, likes, events, and notes) For instance, the four apps on my page are photos, likes, The Fan Factor, and Meredith’s Store. When a fan clicks on the icon for “The Fan Factor,” they are taken to a custom landing page that tells about my new book!

The important thing to keep in mind regarding Facebook is the importance of creating and posting content on your page that will engage your fans. Encourage them to like, share and comment on your content so it gets seen in the news feed. Post pictures and videos related to your business, ask questions, promote events, and share useful tips and strategies that will make your fans want to come back to your page, and ultimately do business with you!