Top 8 Social Media Predictions for 2012

A few Predictions for Social Media in 2012.

1. Social media will be incorporated into corporate websites

Many businesses have added social media links and information to their websites that consumers now look for these links. Visiting a companies Facebook page or Twitter profile has become as important as reading reviews on the business, and corporate websites have noticed this. 2012 will be their time to join the fun.

2. An increase in social media usage on mobile devices

CNet.com reported that, “In April, research firm Gartner reported that over 296 million smartphones shipped worldwide last year. This year, the research firm expects that figure to jump to 468 million. Next year, smartphone shipments could jump to over 630 million, the company said. But all those figures pale in comparison to Gartner’s expected 2015 shipments. The research firm said that by then, 1.1 billion smartphones will ship worldwide.”

3. An increase in personal support

In 2011, individuals began reaching out to others through social media websites. Their problems, issues and causes were spread through outlets like Facebook communities; this has become an accepted outlet to share experiences, find others who support the same causes or have the same problems as you. This type of viral support will only increase in the years to come.

4. Social media budgets will grow

Now that businesses have seen how social media has effected the world, they realize how important their own social media presence is. Websites like, Facebook and Twitter, are such a large part of everyday life for so many people that it’s hard to picture life without this social connection.

5. Social media advertizing will grow

With so many people skipping TV commercials, businesses will look to take their advertizing where the people actually are: social media websites. Some companies will create in-house positions and others will outsource to get their information to the public (via blogs, reviews, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and other outlets relevant to their business.)

6. Creating websites that are compatible with mobile devices

With the increase in smartphone owners, iPads, Tablets, Nooks and so on, companies will have to make sure their website can be accessed through these devices. People often access their favorite websites from their smartphone or tablet while at work, in the airport, waiting at the doctors office, etc. If they can’t access your businesses information, your businesses loses out.

7. Election campaigns + social media

It all started around the time of President Obama’s Presidential Campaign – an increase in Facebook pages geared toward the election and candidates popped up everywhere. These days it seems as if every public figure has their own Facebook account to keep the people informed – including our President.

8. Facebook will surpass 1 Billion people

“Where does that more than 1 billion Facebook users come from? The countries with more than 20 million people and Facebook penetration below 20% will add most of this growth in 2012. Add the potential growth of other countries and you get to a cool billion or 1.1 billion even. And that does not include China.

To see the next level of social media checkout my companies new break-through Social TV platform at http://facebook.com/transitionmanlivetv

Recently I completed an in-depth 75min teleseminar on “How to use social media marketing tactics to grow your business” For details go to: at http://http://budurl.com/qhxc

Four Social Media Trends for 2011

In a recent Social Media Today article.

Here are 4 Social Media Trends, all maketers and business owners should keep in mind when using social media to grow their businesses.

1. Social commerce. Social who? In short, you can now sell on Facebook by letting your customers buy, but also letting them tell their friends. And letting their friends tell their friends. Even if you don’t offer ecommerce on your website, it’s now possible to provide that service through the social network. And it’s overly simple to set up.

2. Group buying. You’ve heard of sites, such as Groupon, that sell for discounts if you get your friends to “group” together to buy a product or service? Based on the $1 billion price tag Groupon received earlier this year, expect them and like-minded sites (such as LivingSocial, YouSwoop, and ScoutMom) to continue to grow, offering you a new way to reach different audiences.

3. Q&A sites. It may seem crazy if you’re not a high user of the social platforms, but people are beginning to make real decisions based on recommendations from their virtual friends. Sites such as JustAnswer will begin to pop up, allowing people to ask a question and get real answers, from real people. The marketing possibilities become endless because you’ll begin to collect data from groups of people instead of one customer at a time.

4. Mobile. It’s no surprise our phones are becoming like third hands for most of us or that we’re eons behind Asian countries on how we use them. But we’re beginning to catch on and move toward abandoning our laptops for phones. Watch for movement toward mobile payments and begin thinking about how to accept payments via an application on the phone.

So, other than content, customer engagement, net neutrality, FTC rules, social commerce, group buying, Q&A sites, and mobile, what trends are you seeing, using technology, for 2011?

Recently I completed an in-depth 75min teleseminar on “How to use social media marketing tactics to grow your business” For details go to: at http://budurl.com/qhxc/

Facebook Fan Page Brands are Profitable

A recent Article reports:

A new six-country survey from DDB reveals that Facebook users who like a brand's page on the social networking site use its products regularly or occasionally and, after following the brand on Facebook, more than a third of the respondents "want to buy this brand's product more."

Brand page fans on Facebook also feel comfortable recommending the brand to friends, with 49 percent of the respondents saying they would "certainly" do so and 43 percent saying they "probably" would. Collectively, that's a whopping 92 percent who qualify as brand advocates -- a figure that staggered survey leader Catherine Lautier.

"I was expecting [brand page likers to be] a lot more benefits orientated versus, 'I'm joining because I actively want to recommend it to friends,'" said Lautier, director of business intelligence at DDB France in Paris. "I thought it would be a lot more passive than that."

The "Facebook and Brands" survey -- which DDB shared first with Adweek -- polled more than 1,600 Facebook users in the U.S., U.K., Italy, France, Australia and Chile that were already connected to brand pages. The polling took place online between Aug. 27 and Sept. 27.

Through its research, the Omnicom Group shop hopes to better understand the relationship between brands and Facebook, which with 500 million users and an array of advertising tools represents fertile ground for marketers and agencies.

The survey sample skewed female (55 percent) and had an average age of 31, according to DDB. Most of the respondents are fairly active on Facebook, with 76 percent visiting the site either once or several times a day. On average, they follow nine brands, the bulk of which (55 percent) are in the media/entertainment sector. The next biggest sector was causes, at 51 percent, followed by fashion/luxury goods, at 46 percent.

The survey found that ads are the primary driver to brand pages, followed by invitations from friends and Web searches. And once there, fans expect more than downloadable coupons. Rather, they want to feel more like a VIP who can access exclusive content, information about new products and yes, promotional offers, before the general public can, DDB discovered.

When ranking the most important reasons why they follow brands on Facebook, respondents cited promotional benefits first, followed by liking the brand, wanting to know about new products, gaining access to exclusive information and being able to provide opinions about the brand. So, to keep fans on Facebook, brands should consider them loyal customers and apply the principles of classic customer relationship marketing, Lautier said.

Creating and maintaining a brand page, of course, is a substantial undertaking. Operators have to freshen such pages regularly with content that fans find relevant, interesting and useful, according to Lautier

So what are you waiting on? Your company needs a Fan Page that is monetized.

To connect with me on facebook go to: http://www.facebook.com/transitionmanfan
Like my Page and join my newsletter and I will give you a free report on how to netized your social networks.

Recently I completed an in-depth 75min teleseminar on “How to use social media marketing tactics to grow your business” For details go to: at http://budurl.com/qhxc/

Social Media Marketing training

In this Blog post I discuss how you can actual sell in the social networks. I will be conducting a social media training on Nov. 13-14, for Professional Speakers, Authors, Coaches, & Business owners. http://www.socialmedia4profits.blogspot.com/

Recently I completed an in-depth 75min teleseminar on “How to use social media marketing tactics to grow your business” For details go to: at http://budurl.com/qhxc/

Social Media Marketing - Tips for business growth

In this video: Social Media Marketing Expert Johnny Campbell- The Transition Man, shares exactly "How a business can succeed through the power of social media. He provides 6 tips for business growth and success.

For more marketing information on how to use Fan pages in business
Please be sure to Join my Fan page at:
http://facebook.com/transitionmanfan

Recently I completed an in-depth 75min teleseminar on “How to use social media marketing tactics to grow your business” For details go to: at http://budurl.com/qhxc/

Facebook Fan Page Marketing

In this video,The Social Media Monetizer- Johnny Campbell- The Transition Man, shares exactly why you need your own Facebook Fan Page for marketing your business. Johnny shows Business owners and professionals how to generate leads & sales from their social media activities.

For more marketing info on how to use Fan pages in business
Please be sure to Join my Fan page at:
http://facebook.com/transitionmanfan


Recently I completed an in-depth 75min teleseminar on
“How to use social media marketing tactics to grow your business” For details go to:
at http://budurl.com/qhxc/

10 reasons a business should have a Facebook Fan Page

Most small businesses don't understand why a Facebook Page could make a difference to their marketing strategy. Listed below are 10 reasons why a small business should consider starting a facebook fan page.

1. It's FREE

2. Searchable- They Show up in the search enginess.

3. It's essential in the modern world of social media marketing; without it most
small businesses are missing a trick

4. Becoming a Fan on a business page is automatic; the customer does not need to wait for acknowledgement as with a Profile.

5. All the statistics are there: who visits the page, how many people are fans, who interacts the most, how much activity there is, how many males or females, what countries they are from and more.

6. Events, links, discussions and many other applications can be added as needed

7. Facebook Ads can be used to further promote the page.

8. A business page can be promoted on a personal profile.

9. Multiple administrators can be added to help keep it up to date.

10. Fans can easily suggest it to their Facebook friends and to their entire mailing list if they
wish.

Finally, know matter the size of a business, but especially small businesses with little or no marketing budget, this is one of the best & free ways to create buzz around products and/or services you are selling or about to release.

Check out and join my Fan page at http://www.facebook.com/transitionmanfan



Recently I completed an in-depth 75min teleseminar on
“How to use social media marketing tactics to grow your business” For details go to:
at http://budurl.com/qhxc/