Are Sound Waves the Next "Big Thing" in Mobile Marketing?

At Constant Raving, we provide social media management services and work with businesses to create a robust marketing strategy or, if one is already in place, to ensure that their social media is aligned with their current strategy.

As time goes on, we are finding that smartphone apps are becoming an integral part of a successful marketing strategy for many businesses. Why? Almost everyone we know today has a smartphone loaded with their favorite apps. Many of these are apps of their favorite brands like Starbucks, Pizza Hut, or Target.  If you don’t have one, your business could be missing a valuable marketing opportunity.

Whether you are thinking about developing a smartphone app, are on the fence, or already have one, you want to take a look at a new technology that is taking off in the mobile marketing world. What could have everyone when new technologies are being developed every day? The answer: Sound Waves.

Sonic Notify has developed technology that allows the use of sound waves to trigger the app on your Smartphone and notify users of deals, give them quick tips or facts about your brand, or even just say “thank you” for visiting.

How can sound waves on a mobile app benefit your business? Let’s say you are a clothing store and someone who has your app, but is not planning to go in your store that day, walks by it at the mall. An inaudible sound wave triggers the app to bring up a message on their smartphone letting them know they can get 20% off today. Instead of walking past, you now have someone who is walked into your store interested in potentially making a purchase.

Sonic Notify has designed this audio-to-mobile technology to be integrated into in-store radio broadcasts, discreetly placed audio devices within the business, TV shows, movies, sporting events, and even live concerts. Their EVP Ross Weinstein says: “Anywhere audio is being broadcast, there’s an opportunity for content to be delivered.”

At Constant Raving, we think this technology has the capability, when used correctly, to be a very valuable asset to many businesses marketing strategies. Why? It allows you to push out mobile content to consumers not only when they are in your store or on your website or social media, but even when they are watching TV or seeing a movie.

Ok, by now you may be interested but wondering how does this work? There are several important, but simple steps:

1.     You must have a mobile app already in place

a.      If you are unsure if a mobile app would be a valuable asset to your businesses marketing strategy, please feel free to contact us!

2.     Install Sonic’s SDK (Sonic Notify’s software kit) into your app

a.      This is as easy as adding an extra line of code

3.     Choose what content you would like delivered to your customers and when

4.     Incorporate an inaudible sonic sound into your sound system, television show, advertisement, or live concert at the time you would like your content to appear

a.      Sonic Notify provides the audio file for you to incorporate into your media

One additional great thing about this technology is that you rarely need a wifi connection or GPS enabled on your phone for the content to be delivered successfully.

Are you interested in using sound wave technology? Let us know in the comments!

As always, if you have any questions about today’s post, smartphone apps, or need help launching or managing your businesses social media, please contact us at ConstantRaving@mvoc.com!

Facebook and Pinterest: Key Points for Businesses

After a brief hiatus, we are back to blogging at Constant Raving!

To dive right in, last week we taught a class on Facebook and Pinterest to a great group from the Home Builders Association of Charlotte.

We wanted to share with you some key points that we addressed during our course that we think are important for everyone who is using social media for their business to know.

Facebook:

The Law:

·      The FTC monitors social platforms for FTC violations

·      You must disclose all endorsements

·      Federal Guidelines carry a $11,000 penalty per infraction

·      You can read more about this at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm

Facebook Guidelines and Promotional Guidelines:

·      You must run a contest through third party applications

·      You cannot use status updates as a promotion or sweepstakes

·      You can read more about this at http://www.facebook.com/promotions_guidelines.php

It’s a Conversation:

·      Social media is the new phone call

o   Would you hang up on a lead?

o   Would you hang up on negative feedback?

Social Media Habits:

·      Understand your target audience

o   When are they online?

o   What type of content do they like?

·      The biggest spike on Facebook occurs at 3pm ET on weekdays, particularly Wednesday

·      Fans are the least active on Sunday

Timeline Optimization:

·      Creativity is key – words get boring!

·      Facebook’s “Ranking” algorithms determine which posts get shown

o   Videos trump Photos, which trumps Links and Text is last

·      Having the popular kids as fans (600+ friends) will not help your page

Pinterest:

What is Pinterest?

·      Online virtual Pinboard

·      The #3 social network, following Facebook and Twitter

Why should I use Pinterest for my business?

·      Brand Reinforcement

·      Interest -> sale is quick and easy

·      Drives traffic to your website, improves your SEO

·      Provides an informal focus group

How can I use Pinterest effectively?

·      Repin, like and comment on others Pins

o   It’s all about reciprocity!

·      Keep Pins and Pinboards brand relevant

·      Run Competitions

·      Integrate your website and social media

·      Dedicate time

                               Melissa and Caitlin after presenting on Facebook and Pinterest

If you are interested in learning more about Facebook and/or Pinterest and how you can use these social media networks effectively for your business, contact us! Also, if you are interested in having us teach a class to your group on Facebook, Pinterest, or any other social media sites, please contact us. We love teaching about our favorite subjects!

Email Melissa and Caitlin at: ConstantRaving@mvoc.com

Call Melissa at: (919) 244.7503

Presenters at the HBA Charlotte!

Part of the Constant Raving team, Melissa and Caitlin, after presenting on Pinterest and Facebook at the SMC of HBA Charlotte! We had a great time and really enjoyed talking about two of our favorite topics!

Women's Social Media Summit

Data mining/searching with Twitter

Twitter searches can be incredibly valuable. I copied this chart from www.Twitter. com to help tweeps understand how to search more effectively.

Twitter Search	Results
Twitter search containing both "twitter" and "search".	This is the default operator.
"happy hour"	Contains the exact phrase "happy hour".
love OR hate	Contains either "love" or "hate" (or both).
beer -root	Contains "beer" but not "root".
#haiku	Contains the hashtag "haiku".
from:alexiskold	Sent from person "alexiskold".
to:techcrunch	Sent to person "techcrunch".
@mashable	Referencing person "mashable".
"happy hour" near:"san francisco"	Contains the exact phrase "happy hour" and sent near "san francisco".
near:NYC within:15mi	Sent within 15 miles of "NYC".
superhero since:2010-12-27	Contains "superhero" and sent since date "2010-12-27" (year-month-day).
ftw until:2010-12-27	Contains "ftw" and sent up to date "2010-12-27".
movie -scary :)	Contains "movie", but not "scary", and with a positive attitude.
flight :(	Contains "flight" and with a negative attitude.
traffic?	Contains "traffic" and asking a question
hilarious filter:links	Contains "hilarious" and linking to URLs
news source:twitterfeed	Contains "news" and entered via TwitterFeed

Facebook Promotional Guidelines

Read along!!

Facebook has become a dream to marketer’s and business owners’ world wide because you have the potential to access to 500 million people.

What many marketers and business owner do not understand is that Facebook does have guidelines concerning promotions and sweepstakes. If you choose to ignore these guidelines Facebook has the authority to remove any material related to the promotion and they could disable your page.

Here are the most important guidelines in a nut shell

1. All promotions that run on Facebook must be fully located on either
a. The canvas of an application
b. In an application box or tab on the Facebook page
2. AND you must get prior approval from Facebook before the promotion starts.


All contest promotions must be run through third party applications, and must be approved by Facebook at least 7 days in advance of the start date!

The guidelines clearly state that users can not be required to purchase a product or complete a lengthy task in order to enter.

The promotion or competition can not in any way indicate that Facebook is a sponsor or administrator of the promotion.

I have included a list of reputable third party applications for you to use when you deicide to run a promotion.

So what does this mean for you?

You cannot condition the entry in the promotion upon user providing content, like upload the best picture, liking your page, liking your update, etc.

You cannot tell users that they are automatically entered into a completion if they become a “like of your page

You cannot notify winner through Facebook, like direct message, wall posts, or Chat.

I have included a complete list of reputable third party applications to take care of all your promotion and sweepstake needs.

Vitrue, Wildfire, Buddy Media, Fanappz, Involver, Context Optional, Votigo, and theUKbuzz.

To read Face books Promotion Guidelines you can visit the website at:
http://www.facebook.com/promotions_guidelines.php

Facebook Place vs. Foursquare

Read Along


I get asked all the time, “Melissa should I use Facebook Places or should I use Foursquare and what is the difference?”


In case you don’t already know, both Facebook Places and Foursquare are Geo-location services that allow users to “check in” at certain locations, like the supermarket, restaurants, etc. This service also allows business to create coupons or deals.

So which one is better? Well that depends on your objective.

Facebook places is now available on the iphone, Androids and the Blackberry. You simple click or touch the Facebook Places icon and “check-in”. Your location and message will be posted on your Facebook wall.

As a business owner, you can claim your business. Simply use the Facebook app to check-in at your business and there is a link at the bottom that says "Is this your business?" Click that to begin the verification process.

Once you have claimed your business, you can use Facebook Places to create “deals” for you customers.

However, there are draw backs.

First, if you are a Blackberry user, you cannot access any deals on Facebook Places. I image that this will not always be these case, but for now, it is.

Second, when you “check-in”, this information is only posted to your Facebook wall and there is no option to have it post anywhere else.

Foursquare is an app that is also available on the iphone, Andriods, and the Blackberry.

Just open the application and “check-in” to your location. The big difference between Foursquare and Facebook Places is that Foursquare gives you the option to post your where-abouts to Facebook, Twitter and to send it to your Foursquare friends.

Businesses can claim there location by simply logging on to the website, Fouraquare.com and going through the verification process.

Once you have claimed your business, you can use Foursquare to create deals and coupons for your customers. As long as you have a smart phone, you can see the deals.