Posts Tagged ‘Idea Associates’
How Do You Get More Social Mentions?
Posted by Sibet B Freides in Demographics, Social Media on September 28th, 2011
When you write a great blog post, are you disappointed to see only a few comments? Do you get only a handful of retweets when you put it on Twitter? Are people on Facebook even acknowledging your post?
An interesting statistic:
Web site pages displaying the Twitter share button get seven times the social media mentions compared with those that do not, according to a study released by The BrightEdge SocialShare Analysis report.
This company randomly selected 4 million tweets, determining if they carried shared information and then analyzing whether the content was shared using tools, buttons, links or other methods. It was quickly identified that buttons drive mentions through social media.
Twitter’s not the only proof: Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ also gained increases in mentions. However, the social share space is still dominated by the two biggest players. About 50.3% of the world’s largest sites have a “Like” button that links to their Facebook pages.
Google+ only sits on about 8.1%, and LinkedIn remains unchanged at 4.0% according to BrightEdge.
In general, the social share buttons work because they make it very easy for people to share your content in one click. That’s important in today’s instant gratification digital world. This statistic doesn’t necessarily span across all generations, however; although 32% of boomers said they use a social networking site on a typical day, they are still reluctant to click on the Facebook “Like” or Twitter share buttons, especially women aged 50 and up.
What about you? Do you share a great blog post using social share buttons? Has your social mention score risen since you put them on your own website?
Affluents Right at Home in the Digital World
Posted by Sibet B Freides in Demographics, Marketing on September 27th, 2011
In a recent survey about lifestyles and attitudes, 79% of affluents shared that in the last decade their lives have become quite intertwined with technology, including digital advertising. Almost 60% said they took action as a result of seeing a digital ad, including clicking, searching for more information, buying the product online, or going to a retail store to purchase.
Agencies have traditionally felt this group was the hardest to reach through any media, especially TV and radio. However, they are actually the heaviest users of digital media, spending at least six hours more a week than the general population.
What does this mean?
The paradigm has shifted; you can expect affluents to respond to digital advertising and even share information about them so they can have a more personal online experience.
They still seek clever and attractive ads that entertain, but affluents look for balance and relevancy, as long as it is on their terms and they are not repeatedly interrupted with ads that demand immediate action.
Boomers: Is the Housing Market’s Cavalry Here?
Posted by Sibet B Freides in Demographics, Real Estate Economics, Real Estate Trends on September 22nd, 2011
Being able to easily meet today’s required 20 percent down payment, boomers should be ready and able to bail this generation out of the housing muddle. So why is this not happening?
Unfortunately, the boomers are too busy taking care of the Gen-Xers that CAN’T qualify for a mortgage in today’s restrictive market.
I still think there’s hope for the market to be recovered by this steadfast generation. For one, they did not purchase their first home during the recent housing boom, so this means they will have a larger home equity cushion and the ability to secure a reverse mortgage.
They are also looking for a different lifestyle and product and are ready to buy. According to the NAHB, specifically appealing to boomers are single-story homes and with all living space on one level.
The 55+ demographic actually account for almost a quarter of all new custom-home purchases, so builders should be catering to this group of middle agers. Unfortunately, homebuilders are contending with a huge overhang of existing homes on the market, and having a harder time getting banks to sign off on construction loans.
Do you think the boomer generation will lead the housing revival? We’ve already seen signs, do you think it’s just a matter of when? Let us know by commenting below or posting on our Facebook page!
Agencies Struggling to Change Their Model
Posted by Sibet B Freides in Marketing on August 31st, 2011
Traditional agencies are used to a single creative idea that could be used across a handful of channels like TV, print, and outdoor. In today’s new climate there are dozens of new channels, tactics, and disciplines that require very different skills and individualized messages.
Clients no longer look to agencies for the same ideas and services they once did. Does that mean agencies should play a lesser role? Some would think so.
We don’t.
We believe that clients need the right idea and right team with the right experience to execute their message effectively. New media is evolving so fast, and businesses are looking for the perfect blend of strategy and solutions to help them with the whole picture.
So many companies are trying to adapt to the digital age by focusing on websites or SEO only. Forget individual services niches and specialties; today’s clients are demanding new relationships with agencies.
To be successful in this new marketplace, the line between “traditional” and “new media” must disappear – clients are in need of a single agency that actually knows each of the disciplines well and executes them using that foundational knowledge integrated with customized campaigns across all relevant channels.
The Benefits of Google+
Posted by Sibet B Freides in Marketing, Social Media on August 24th, 2011
There always seems to be a new social network – so why try Google+?
Over the last several years, online conversations have moved from blogs to social networks. The most engaging status updates, tweets and shares generate conversations, edging them up to the top of the search engines.
Comments, likes and shares have become important measures of influence. Does Google+ give Google search the social functions it needs to stay relevant? Is it still an experiment, or should businesses be thinking about how to use Google+ in their social media outreach strategy?
Content creation has moved away from page views to short, microbursts of information, making Page Rank much less useful. Using Google+ may be better than other social media tools because it does less; it has a specific set of features and doesn’t try to be everything to everyone in a single platform.
Google already has established services like Gmail, YouTube, and more. Google+ can easily integrate into these existing services and add a social function to boot! Many people feel Google is a solid cake with social being the icing to enhance the overall user experience.
Overall, your business still needs to have a clear strategy and specific goal, no matter what new-fangled social tool pops up next. Yes, you need to understand the ins and outs of social media marketing and where your audience spends their time, but what good are likes and followers if you have no idea what you want to achieve once you get them to your social profiles?
Idea Associates has a 25+ year solid background in traditional marketing. Our new media solutions help you define, carry out and measure goals that will get you results, using only the platforms that make sense for your business.
Who’s Using Social Media?
Posted by Sibet B Freides in Demographics, Social Media on August 16th, 2011
In 2011, over 63% of Internet users in the United States will use social networks on a 
regular basis, amounting to nearly 148 million people. Marketers and media companies alike now know that Social media is here to stay, and in order to reach their audience they must have a presence on social networks.
Who are they?
Seniors
The 2010 US Census counted 40 million seniors in the US. Traditional media continues to be the preferred way to receive message among seniors, but the Internet is quickly infiltrating their world. Social media usage among seniors is projected to be around 56% by 2015.
Moms Who Blog
Blogger moms have become important marketing partners and powerful allies. They spread the word about products and services to millions of other moms who go online looking for advice and recommendations. In total, there are 3.9 million women with children under 18 who write blogs, covering a wide variety of subjects, including parenting, couponing, travel, special needs and organic living.
Millennials
Millennials are the first generation to be raised with online media. These digital natives quickly adopt new technologies and adapt them to fit their lifestyles. Millennials value experiences and engagement with brands, and will be evangelists for those who do engage within their social circles.
Do you know how to reach these groups effectively and how to customize your message for them? If you’re struggling with your social networking reach, let Idea Associates help you!
Video Blogs: Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em?
Posted by Sibet B Freides in Marketing, Social Media on July 21st, 2011
Video brings so much value to your message. If you’re not 
offering some sort of video to your audience you have a lot of catching up to do!
As a marketer I know these things. However, as a consumer, I do have mixed feelings about the explosion of video information. So this list of Pros and Cons is strictly from a consumer viewpoint – from the information I receive in my inbox and on my chosen feeds.
Video Pros
- Allows me to truly connect with the face behind the message, which helps the trust factor
- Shows me more details of a product or service than I may have with just a description and photo
- If done well, is more effective in reaching me emotionally, prompting a decision about what is being offered
- Makes it easy for me to share with people I think could also benefit from the information
Video Cons
- Many times I read emails throughout the work day, or on my smartphone, which are not feasible times to watch a video with sound (if it loads at all on my phone)
- If my high-speed is acting up or unavailable, the constant stopping/starting/freezing of a video is frustrating enough for me to not only not watch it but possibly unsubscribe.
- Most video blogs I see average 10-20 minutes in length – who has that kind of time to sit through a video uninterrupted?
- Today’s videos are smarter: they do not include an option to pause. While the intention of this is for viewers to be “forced” to watch it in its entirety, it has the opposite effect on me: I abort it altogether if I can’t watch it on my terms (with breaks)
- I try to save the ones I receive until I am able to give them my undivided attention; but by then I have several 20-minute videos lined up to watch and I feel overwhelmed
Overall Consumer Opinion
I know many of these fantastic, FREE videos are packed with very valuable content. Unfortunately, I miss out on a good portion of it because it’s simply not convenient for me to watch videos on the fly, when they are presented to me. I would much rather a short, two-minute video introduction with a downloadable PDF packed with the pertinent information I am seeking. Perhaps making video an option for those who have the luxury of watching videos as they arrive in their inbox is the best choice.
Do I differ from the average consumer? You tell me – do you like receiving your content better in a traditional, written blog or over video? What are your pros and cons? Let us know by commenting below or posting your thoughts on our Facebook page!
New Break for Unemployed Homeowners
Posted by Sibet B Freides in Real Estate Economics, Real Estate Trends on July 20th, 2011
The Obama administration is making it easier for out-of-work homeowners to stay in their homes.
As of August 1, the Federal Housing Administration will extend the period for unemployed homeowners to miss mortgage payments to a full year instead of three months. You read that right. That means homeowners can go a full 12 months without making a monthly payment before the foreclosure process starts.
This will only apply to FHA-backed loans, which represents about 14 percent of all current mortgages. The government does hope that Fannie and Freddie, and perhaps even private lenders will also adopt this new policy.
The initial foreclosure program was launched in 2009 to help those at risk of foreclosure by lowering their monthly payments on a trial basis, but creating permanent loan modifications has not been very successful to date.
Recently, President Obama tweeted that the housing market has “been most stubborn to us trying to solve the problem,” admitting, too, that the government’s programs to aid homeowners hasn’t been enough to help the economy.
According to msnbc.com, the failures of the foreclosure assistance program has been blamed on the three largest U.S. mortgage lenders for incorrectly determining many applicants ineligible for assistance.
Do you think the FHA’s new 12-month delay program will make the difference needed in our housing market? What would you have done differently if you were in charge? Let us know by commenting below!
Does Direct Mail Still Work?
Posted by Sibet B Freides in Demographics, Marketing on July 19th, 2011
I’m not talking about eBlasts or opt-in newsletters. I mean something in an envelope that actually arrives in your physical mailbox.
Print is dead. Direct mail is dead. Outdoor is dead.
Or are they?
If you are still estimating your ideal client’s demographics using old-school thought processes, then buying a generic list most likely won’t work. Why? Because you really don’t know the customer or anything about them.
How does direct mail still work in a digital age?
Know your audience. Match your direct mail piece to their current lifestyle, possessions and desires or needs. Once you’ve captured your audience, really stir up their emotions. You can employ old-school marketing to the new age of really knowing your buyer and what motivates them.
What medium are you using to get to know your clients or customers? Social Media? Focus groups? Do you hire consultants to profile your audience? Let us know by commenting on the blog below, or posting on our Facebook page!
How Real Estate Agents Are Using Social Media
Posted by Sibet B Freides in Real Estate Trends, Social Media on July 13th, 2011
More and more agents are turning to Social Media to help sell homes.
In fact, more than half of the National Association of Realtors‘ member agents reported using social networking sites last year, compared with a little more than a third in 2009. Nearly two-thirds have a website and 1 in 10 has a Blog.
Even though online listings have been around for quite some time, many agents still prefer the in-person approach, as business has traditionally been done using agent-to-agent referrals. They are now starting to go where their clients already are: on Social Media.
Last year, 89% of buyers surfed the Web to find a house, while only 45% attended open houses and 36% looked at print ads, according to the National Association of Realtors’ Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.
In order to make his online efforts pay off, agents must write about things that draw readers and not just regurgitate listings. Blog posts should focus on the town agents are selling in – interesting things that people will talk about and share.
When prospective buyers or sellers are looking for an agent, your blog makes it clear that you know the market, making you trustworthy and credible. It’s content, not self-promotion that attracts clients. Agents should not be afraid to have a personal take on area information.
In addition to Blogging, agents should not neglect Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Craigslist. Google AdWords campaigns are great for targeting buyers in the area, and MLS listings can be complemented using Realtor.com, Trulia, and Zillow.
Also new to the Real Estate market are the use of quick-response codes on for-sale signs so people can pull up to a house, aim a smartphone at the sign and download details right away.
Agents, are you using Social Media to its fullest to expand your business? Which mediums or channels work best for you? We’d love to hear about your struggles and successes, so feel free to comment below or post on our Facebook page to share your stories!
