What is the Explore Page?

The Instagram Explore page is an updated version of the Popular page that was on the network in the early days. The Explore page is different for each user on the network – focused on showcasing content that’s relevant to them based on the accounts and hashtags they follow.

The page is a mix of posts you’ve liked, and posts by people whose posts you’ve liked. This is wonderful for businesses because when your followers like your post, it can show up in their followers Explore Page. If you have a photo that gets a lot of engagement, it makes it easier for your post to go viral on the social network.

You want to be on the Explore Page because it’ll help you get more likes and followers on Instagram, which could easily increase the revenue you bring in. You’ll be able to earn more customers and sell more to them. The Explore Page will expose your business to a new audience of potential customers, and because it’s different for each user based on interests, followers who find you there will be the targeted audience you’re looking for, rather than a random Instagram user. And, it doesn’t cost you anything.

How Instagram Chooses Content for the Explore Tab

Instagram selects photos and videos that have a lot of engagement on them in a short amount of time after they’re posted to your account. This means posting content your audience loves, at a time when they are online to engage with it. But, more than likes, the algorithm pays attention to the conversation that takes place – or the comments between you and other followers.

Your profile must be set to public – which it should be as a business profile. Believe it or not, we have seen some businesses set to private – which protects your profile content from people who are not following you.

The older your account is, the better. It’s not likely Instagram puts a lot of weight on account age, but chances are that if your account is just a few weeks old or doesn’t have a lot of content on it, it won’t be as eligible for the Explore tab, even if you have lots of followers and engagement.

The reason is Instagram knows a lot of activity like that doesn’t happen quickly, and they’re paying attention to natural activity just like Google does when they choose where and how to rank websites.

How to Increase Your Chances of Being Featured on the New Popular Page

Use an automation platform. Using an Instagram bot like SocialCaptain can help you follow people that are part of your targeted audience. It can also like and comment on photos for you, so you can increase your engagement automatically and spend more of your time focusing on the content creation side of things. It also ensures you are building a continuous stream of new followers, which is important to the algorithm.

Create content specifically for your target market. You want your content to stand out on the Explore page, so just getting there isn’t enough. If you’re not creating stellar content for the audience, then they won’t engage with it… and engagement is key. But, if you land on the Explore page without something awesome, it’ll just fade away into the noise. You won’t get new followers from it because no one will notice your content from the other stuff they see on their Explore page.

Schedule posts at the right time. Scheduling posts in advance not only means you can batch your work so you don’t have to stress creating new content every day, but it means that you can make sure you’re posting at the right time for your audience to maximize engagement. You may need to experiment with various times until you see what works best, and go from there. Your Instagram Analytics will provide insights into the best times for optimal engagement based on your audience behavior.

Include a call to action on each of your posts. Tell your audience what you want them to do on each post. Encouraging interation is one of the best ways to get it. Tell them they can “double tap” to like your photos, or leave a comment. When they take the time to leave a comment, take the time to reply to them to continue the conversation. This shows them you’re paying attention and encourages them to comment on future posts.

You can also tell your followers to tag a friend in the comments to let them know about what you’re offering. Getting more likes and comments can help improve your chances of showing up on the Explore page.

Remember, there’s no way to find out exactly what the Instagram algorithm formula uses to pick and choose the Explore page content. And because that formula changes all the time in an effort to improve user experience, the only thing you can do is consistently step up your game to make sure you’re producing quality content and work on your presence and engagement. It will take time and effort, but the payoff will be worth it.

The post How to Get on Instagram’s Explore Page appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

If you’ve been stuck using the same strategy for your Instagram account, switch things up. Here are some unique, but highly effective account growth tips to apply now.

1. Use Automation

Rapid engagement is the goal for more Instagrammers. However, most business owners don’t have the time needed to organically grow their Instagram accounts quickly. That’s where automation comes in. You can use an Instagram bot like SocialCaptain to create engagement for you.

Automation should be used as a supplement to your regular engagement, not a replacement. You’re busy, but you can still make a good impression on users by liking and commenting on photos during the few minutes per day you’re online.

“My rule of thumb is that, when I’m scrolling through my news feed, I’ll like every photo (unless it truly offends me) – why should I be stingy with my likes? And if a photo catches my eye and makes me stop for a second, I’ll leave a comment,” says the mommy blogger of Happy Grey Lucky, pointing out that sometimes simple engagement is all it takes to make a long-lasting impression on clients.

2. Create a Good Hashtag

Hashtags are one of the best methods for building a community of Instagram followers. They make your content searchable while helping you communicate with a consistent voice and branding. You can use as many hashtags as you like, whether in the post itself or in the comments, to increase consumers’ ability to find your content through search.

If you want to speed up that growth further, create a unique hashtag, one that’s not already being used. Use it for your posts and then ask your followers to use the hashtag on relevant photos as well.

“Once people start using your hashtag (and YOU use it, too!), then you can repost images from your followers (giving them proper credit, of course!),” says Melyssa Griffin. “Not only does this build community by showing your followers that you appreciate their photos, but it also gives you content for your own account.”

Since user-generated content builds incredible engagement, this is another way that you’re going to naturally grow your Instagram account.

You could also try a hashtag exchange with an influencer or another Instagrammer in a related niche. You’ll use their hashtag and they’ll use yours, so you can both grow off each other’s audiences.

3. Use Instagram Stories Highlights

Instagram recently released an update to their platform called Instagram Stories. It’s like the feature on Snapchat that allows users to post a quick video or image highlight with captions. You can also do surveys and other interactive content to get followers to your page.

“You can think of Instagram Stories Highlights like a movie trailer for your Instagram feed,” says Benjamin Chacon of Later. “They’re a creative way to express yourself, show off products, drive traffic, or market your business!”

Instagram Stories highlights can be posted as regular posts or as advertisements. If you’re trying to maximize your Instagram advertising campaign, this is one of the most effective placements on the platform.

Instagram actually updated their algorithm earlier this year to prioritize businesses that use Instagram Stories, so if you haven’t been using it and have noticed a drop in engagement, that’s probably the reason.

4. Get on a Content Schedule

A 2017 study examined the key components of rapid Instagram account growth. They studied more than 100,000 Instagram posts for the space of three months. In that time, Instagram handles that posted regularly (at least once per day) saw an increased rate of engagement as well as a higher rate of followers.

A content schedule is designed to help you grow your content at a steady pace. It’s not always quick, but you’ll see a significant jump in followers as soon as you start posting regularly, aiming for when your users are online.

This is another instance in which automation comes in handy. You can use Instagram tools to schedule content for you so that you don’t have to hop on the platform at the same time as your users.

5. Have Instagram Contents

People love free stuff, and offering it is a great way to get your brand in front of your targeted audience. Contests motivate greater engagement and potential followers, and if you can sustain high quality content that your users love after it’s over, your brand engagement will skyrocket.

Contests happen all the time, and you don’t have to be super creative to get people on board, but it helps. The most important thing is to offer free prizes that your target audience will find useful or worthwhile. Otherwise, you’ll never gain engagement.

“You can get as creative as you want with your contest ideas,” says Shane Barker of Medium. “You could ask users to repost an image that you have posted previously. Along with it, ask them to mention your Instagram handle in the caption section to increase visibility.”

Barker also advises the use of hashtags that will make your contest searchable and help further the reach of your brand.

6. Have a User-Generated Content Strategy

As mentioned previously, user-generated content is one of the best strategies for creating engagement. Oftentimes, you’ll gain a rapid following as well as consumers that share with their friends and connect you with people you might not have found otherwise. Even more than that, it increases the likelihood that a follower will become a customer.

Buffer says that their user-generated content strategy was key in growing their content at the beginning. They grew almost 400 percent in a year thanks to the content they elicited from their users.

“The easiest way to think about user-generated content is this: brands taking the best-of-the-best user content from around the web and featuring it on their own social media or other platforms while giving credit to the original creator,” Courtney Seiter of Buffer said.

User-generated content, hashtags, a content schedule, and the other metrics you choose to employ will all contribute to greater branding and a better overall consumer impression. It’s the key to success in growth and consistency for your social media efforts.

The post 6 Unique (And Effective) Ways to Grow Your Instagram Account appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

From a fan’s perspective, it allows them to feel more connected to their favorite artists and get a behind the scenes look into their lives. While many musicians are extremely talented at what they do, they aren’t up to speed on social media promotion, as they are focused on their music.

Tony Fountain, Founder and CEO of NOW Entertainment understands the importance of social media and how it is one of the most effective means of promotion and music distribution. Here are three keys to help you effectively promote your music using social media.

Offer an incentive to share content promoting the album.

By leveraging the artist’s following, you can get new music in front of a much larger audience with very little marketing cost. “Most fans will do anything that an artist will ask of them, and the response is even better when you give them incentive to share,” says Fountain.

Something as simple as randomly selecting a dozen followers that share a post for a free album download or giving out merchandise can amplify the reach tremendously. “Often times you can leverage a contest to receive the kind of impressions and traffic that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars a day if you were running social media paid ads,” adds Fountain.

The more popular the artist, the more traction you will see right out of the gate. The newer the artist, the sweeter the incentive will need to be.

Use video posts to make the message personal and direct from the artist.

While you will experience some success just posting links to where new music can be heard, you should be taking advantage of video content to really see the best results.

“By posting videos, it allows the artist to better directly connect with his or her fan base. Instagram stories, for example, can be filmed in mere seconds and the fans feel as if the artist is speaking directly to them. Since it’s more personal, if they ask for something, the response will often be far greater. The ‘swipe up’ feature on Instagram stories is very powerful,” says Fountain.

Even the busiest artist can find a few seconds a day to shoot a few pieces of video content, which can then be distributed across all of his or her social media profiles, from Instagram and Facebook to Twitter and Snapchat.

Don’t flood feeds with non-stop promotional posts.

“The biggest mistake many new artists make is bombarding their followers with promotional posts.” Advises Fountain. “People are following their artists to stay up to date on what they are doing, but more so to get a glimpse into their life.”

The smart play is to really let your fan base into your life. Share sneak peeks and make the followers feel as if they are on the road with the artist and part of their daily activities. This is how you create a very loyal following.

Then, when you do drop a promotional post, the following is going to feel such a connection to the artist that they will do whatever is asked, whether it’s visiting a specific URL or sharing a post. Building that personal connection is the biggest component of a loyal and responsive social media following.

The post 3 Keys to Effectively Promote an Album on Social Media appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Like any list of projected trends, this is just an estimation. No one can see into the future and discern what the most successful Instagram marketing campaign will be. However, based on the rapid growth rate of Instagram with more than a billion active users and trends that have worked in the past, experts have made a few likely predictions. Real Instagram followers are probably looking for the following trends as we roll into the new year.

1. Buying Direct on Instagram

“Got an e-commerce store? If so, you need to be using Instagram’s Shopping feature,” says expert marketer Neil Patel. “Like, right now. It improves product discovery on the app by condensing and making information available in one place.”

He explains that when customers see a product they want to purchase on Instagram, they’re more likely to finish the transaction rather than abandoning the cart. People are naturally impulsive when it comes to making purchases, and the more hoops they have to jump through, the more time they have to change their minds.

An online boutique called Lulus ran a test to see whether or not this feature made that much of a difference in their online shoppers. They discovered than nearly a third of those who tapped into an advertisement to learn more also clicked “Shop Now.” This shopping feature is worth considering for the near future.

2. Use Live Streaming to Organically Reach Users

Many marketers are nervous about going live because if you make a mistake, you can’t fix it. However, it’s an excellent way to connect with an audience and provide the customer service and valuable content they crave.

Play around a little with live video now. Pretty soon, most businesses will be using this feature, so take this time to practice until you feel confident in your productions.

3. Using AR Filters for Your Instagram Stories

At one point, you might have been told that using the silly augmented reality features on Facebook was a no-no in the business realm. It was considered too unprofessional. However, that’s all changing. Instagram users crave the casual connection with their favorite brands, and they welcome business posts that integrate these funny filters into their videos.

What’s more, many brands are developing their own Instagram filters in order to appease the interests of their followers. For example, Rhianna created a diamond-themed filter to promote her annual charitable event, the Diamond Ball. Kylie Jenner also created filters for her new line of lipsticks so that followers could virtually try on her lip shades.

If there’s an opportunity to create a filter that will promote your business on Instagram, take it!

4. More IGTV for Users

In June, Instagram announced their new video platform designed for mobile viewing called IGTV. It’s made for vertical video playback so that marketers and content producers can better address an audience that exclusively uses their mobile phones.

“Why vertical? Instagram wants to encourage people to create video content but, at the same time, to do it exclusively for mobile,” explains Robert Katai of AdWeek. “We already know that people are more likely to use their mobile devices in a vertical position, hence the type of video.”

Creating more vertical video content is a brand new concept that today’s social media marketers should embrace if they want to successful stay up to date with Instagram.

5. Try Long-Form Content

Instagram is notorious for brief images and captions. However, social media users are loving long-form content no matter where they find it.

“We’re going to see a rise in long-form content,” Spendesk inbound marketing manager Patrick Whatman told AdWeek’s Robert Katai. “That’s intentional on the part of Facebook: It brought in IGTV specifically to let people go long.”

Studies show that long-form content not only increases social media engagement, but also increases website traffic.

“[Instagram] knows that teens and young people love watching vloggers on YouTube,” Whatman continues. “It also knows that these same people love watching videos on their phones. So, in direct competition with YouTube, it built a format that lets these vloggers create videos for the vertical screen—the same screen that young people love to watch on the bus or in the car.”

6. Integrate Instagram Into Third-Party Applications

Integration into third-party services is becoming a non-negotiable option for businesses. It provides essential data about your customers to help your business succeed. It’s also extremely convenient for your consumers, even though it means giving up some of their personal details.

But many companies still haven’t embraced this service with Instagram. Businesses who haven’t yet incorporated Instagram in multiple applications will begin to do so in 2019 before it’s too late to compete.

7. Chatbots Will Go Mainstream

Chatbots are still relatively new and exciting to businesses and consumers alike, but that childlike fascination will significantly dull in the new year. Their use is going to become pretty much mainstream in 2019 in multiple applications, including Instagram.

Chatbots make it easy to stay up to date with your brand, responding directly to customer messages and even auto posting when you need a hand. You shouldn’t rely too heavily on this service, but it is an important feature to include in your Instagram strategy.

8. Ads in Instagram Stories

Nearly half of all Instagram users engage with the new Instagram Stories feature on a daily basis. It’s the perfect alternative to the increasing prices of Facebook advertising, and you can still get the same targeted effect with your ads.

These ads don’t have to be complex. It could be as simple as adding a banner to a photo or shooting a 20-second video to announce new products. Later.com also warns that your content should fit in as naturally as possible with non-business Instagram Stories.

“Remember, when people are watching Instagram Stories they are used to seeing casual content from their friends instead of highly-produced videos, so if you don’t want people to swipe past your ‘ad,’ try testing organic, less filtered visuals,” she encourages.

Your Instagram strategy should be constantly evolving, hailing in a new year of greater followers and higher engagement on your page. This is the key to staying competitive on Instagram and in your business.

The post 8 Instagram Trends to Watch in 2019 appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

source: CoinGeek

But it’s not all the time that a scam gives everyone a good laugh—especially not when people are victimized. In fact, even with Ryan Gosling’s face on that scam ICO website, the scammers still managed to run off with $830,000  before the site vanished into thin air, according to SocialGoneViral.

Countless blockchain companies are emerging—at what seems to be–by the minute, and since thousands of them are scams, it’s imperative for anyone transacting with cryptocurrencies to do their own due diligence to protect their funds. The blockchain and cryptocurrency spaces can be chaotic, and they will probably remain that way until both industries mature.

Looking back at the history of the internet, its earliest days were also riddled with tons of scams– and this trend persists to this day—almost 30 years after its inception. The blockchain world will probably have to go through the same rough patch that the internet did for a certain period before effectively purging more of the scams out.

In the meantime, users can educate themselves and do their own research. Here are some steps to help keep you from being robbed in the world of blockchain and crypto.

Check the website for the company’s background and backers.

Whether you’re new to the blockchain industry or an experienced participant looking for new projects and platforms, always check the websites of the companies you’re interested in. Most blockchain start-ups include the profiles of their team members so newcomers can better weigh the company’s legitimacy.

You can tell a lot by looking at the team behind a project. One of the best indicators that you’re in good hands is when the expertise of the team members are well-spread and relevant to what they’re doing. For example, a company that is launching an ICO for a real estate blockchain project but whose team members have no relevant background in that industry is probably not a safe bet.

On the other hand, a company building a cryptocurrency trading platform whose members are finance veterans is more likely to succeed. For example, a new cryptocurrency exchange called BitAsset is building a platform for ETF index funds, futures and derivatives, and other financial products—and its team is comprised of Wall Street veterans who know how traditional banking and finance work.

The experience of their team is consistent with the company they’re building. At least one of founder should have the relevant experience for the project at hand. You shouldn’t trust a team comprised of only insurance salespeople to build an artificial intelligence project on their own.

Check if the members listed on the team page are real people and if they are actually connected with the project.

Much like the Ryan Gosling scam, it’s easy for scammers to build a team profile using stock photos of random people, writing fake names and backgrounds for them. Do a background check on the names listed on their website.

Snoop around, find their LinkedIn pages, Twitter accounts, and even Facebook accounts. If necessary, send the account holder a message to confirm their connection with the project. If it turns out they’re not actually connected with the project, not only did you save yourself from a potential con, you would have also helped alert the unwitting individual that their name is being used for a scam.

This is exactly what happened with a project claiming to be reviving SegWit2x last year. The person listed as their CEO denied being involved in the project.

Fortunately, blockchain is also a powerful tool for identity verification, reputation, and background checks. Solutions are being built on the blockchain for more secure, more transparent, and easily verifiable ways to check whether a person is who they say they are. On platforms like LinkedIn, any profile can list made-up credentials, and random people give out their recommendations willy-nilly even when they’ve never met or worked with the person they’re recommending. LinkedIn doesn’t even check to see if the profiles on their site are real people.

But on blockchain platforms, this is changing. Penalties can be imposed on false verifications and rewards can be given for honest, accurate recommendations. One example is a startup called BHIRED.io, which makes identity and reputation verification for employment key focal points on its recruitment platform. Reputation scores are part of the ecosystem, paving the way for a “more transparent and honest LinkedIn.” Additionally, not just anyone can access profiles on the platform; this means data miners cannot just gather data for profit as they please. Data owners have full control over who gets to access their data, and get compensated accordingly should it be shared.

Sounds cliche, but Google it.

Some companies don’t include their team profile on their website; this could primarily be due to turnovers and replacements, which isn’t necessarily a bad sign. In fact, it’s just a natural reality for any company. But a Google search of the company name should help you out.

Results should include news articles, forums, interviews, events—a variety of material about the company. If the company has never been heard of and has no online presence, then proceed with caution.

When in doubt, ask.

There are entities in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space who choose to remain pseudonymous; this doesn’t automatically mean they’re not legitimate. Several pseudonymous individuals have established their aliases in the space, and people trust them without knowing the real identities behind them.

If you’re in doubt, ask around. There are several communities and forums online such as Reddit, Bitcointalk, and Telegram which are dedicated to answering questions and discussing new companies. Even Twitter has a league of people willing to help out; this is the good thing about the blockchain industry—online communities have risen for global collaboration and guidance.

The post Blockchain company check: why the team says a lot about the company appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

As we look back over the past 5 years, influencer marketing has seen rapid changes in how both brands, platforms, and influencers approach it. While much of the industry in the past has been selling the value and gathering adoption, that is no longer. Influencer marketing is changing and there’s a variety of key areas to consider as these changes come to life.

Bigger budgets

First off the medium is growing, and this will ultimately be the biggest driver of change. Studies show that the the influencer marketing ad spend, which was only $500M in 2015, could easily grow to $10B by 2020.

This trickle down effect will mean more agencies arising and getting involved, bigger budget for creative & production, additional budgets for paid media boosts, more regulations, and more platform involvement. What’s causing this growth in budget? Simple; the method is working.

While early days were experiential and unknown, today you’ll find thousands of successful case studies on the medium. These building case studies and increase media attention will get the eyes of the C-Suite and ultimately will push forward budgets as projected.

Higher demand for unique creative

In 2016, Scott Dissick showed the world just how bad influencer marketing creative could be when he copied and pasted a email for the caption of a photo promoting a protein powder. While this anecdote was an extreme case of a poor execution, it showed a glimpse of the broad issue with how brands go about executing their campaigns.

As budgets and eye-balls increase, there’s a bigger demand for a seamless experience from the influencer’s original content to their paid sponsors posts. Users are starting to be able to more easily distinguish between a paid post and something that an influencer truly enjoys. To combat this, brands & their agencies will need to get more thoughtful in how they write their caption copy, what the photo & video is, and how they deploy it.

There will also be increased use of original video content that integrates personality and original writing. Instagram Stories will also be a medium of choice with more unique, influencer-based video content coupling dedicated posts.

Demand for authenticity

In an Influencer Marketing survey that asked 170 marketers from CPGs, food-and-beverage companies to retailers, 87% of respondents said that “influencer marketing’s top benefits entail creating authentic content about their brand.” A key to not losing this benefit is to take extra steps to show and push authenticity.

“A great way we’ve seen to tell the raw, authentic story in an influencer marketing campaign is filming behind the scenes” says Mike Clum, CEO of Clum Creative, a video production business riding the growth of influencer videos. “Release a long-form video of behind the scenes in unison with the ad will build deeper trust and connection with fans of both the brand and the influencer.”

A perfect example is seen in GoldShark’s behind the scenes on their collaboration with KOLD. The 8 minute video documents the hard work that went into the content created, but also showed KOLD’s passion for GoldShark’s products. It gave the final video, posted to KOLD’s channel, a more meaningful dynamic and yielded ultimately a better campaign.

Influencer marketing turns to advertising

Organic posts won’t be enough in 2019 and beyond. There will be and already is a rise in paid media to promote influencer campaigns. These boosted posts will come both from the brand as well as the influencer.

Why the rise in paid spend? Because of the volatility in news feed algorithms. Banking on organic engagement is simply too risky given the ebbs and flows of how facebook & instagram prioritize their content. Paid boosts allow brands to take ownership and control of results, engagement, and sales which will be necessary as influencer budgets start to reach a level where ROI becomes increasingly imperative.

Higher accountability

In June 18’ when Unilever put a crackdown on working with influencers with fake followers, it set ripples in the advertising community. While many digital-first marketers knew of fake followers since the days of Twitter in 2012, this brought a heightened awareness to the conversation.

Brands are using simple tools such as FakeCheck.co, HypeAuditor, or TwitterCheck – which allow you to quickly check what percentage of an influencer’s following is real.

But this accountability push isn’t just coming from the brands, but also from the FTC and other government regulators who are pushing further regulations and demands for clear communication of sponsorships. Canada went to the extent to publish official influencer marketing ad standards, see other countries to follow-suit soon.

LinkedIn & B2B influencers emerging

With the emergence of LinkedIn video, a new breed of B2B Linkedin Influencers are a group to take seriously when it comes to influencer marketing. Speakers, marketers, and consultants with micro followings of 5000 to 100,000 can get extremely high engagement rates on videos and long-form text posts. This underpriced attention is a ripe spot for B2B brands.

Platforms outperforming agencies.

While agencies are naturally gravitating to capture a volume of the rise in influencer marketing spend, easy to use platforms are making it easier for brands to bring the channel in-house. And that’s exactly what you’re seeing, especially with the uncertainty around follower legitimacy.

These platforms allow you to search between influencers, analyze metrics associated with their followings, find the right influencers for your campaign and quickly book them. Essentially doing the job of the agency & talent firm with a few clicks.

The post 7 Ways Influencer Marketing Is Changing (And How Marketers Can Keep Up) appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Some of the most commonly blocked websites are social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc. These social sites encourage freedom of expression, which goes against the laws in many of these countries.

Major Countries That Block Social Networks

There are many countries that block social media access. Here are some of the biggest perpetrators:

• China, Turkey, and Iran block Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
• Vietnam prevents its citizens from accessing Facebook, although there are occasional lifts of this ban to try to generate political sympathy.
• North Korea not only blocks all social media platforms, but it also prevents its citizens from accessing our version of the internet.

Whether you live in these countries or you’re just visiting, these restrictions present a huge challenge for online browsing. You have a basic right to privacy that should enable you to use the internet how you wish, even if the government wants control.

5 Ways to Use a VPN to Access Blocked Social Sites  

There’s a shining star for those living in the midst of blocked internet access known as a virtual private network (VPN). Anyone can use a VPN for less restricted internet access, including entry to blocked social sites.

A good VPN offers enhanced privacy and security for your everyday internet browsing. Just picture an iron-clad tunnel between your device and the web. You’re the only one in that tunnel, and no outside forces, including spies and hackers, can gain entry or see what you’re doing. They probably don’t even know your tunnel exists, and they certainly don’t know you’re using it.

How do you make the VPN work in your favor? Here are a few ways.

1. Change the IP Address Location

With this affordable private network, you can manipulate the IP address location so that it appears in a region where those social sites aren’t blocked. It will tell your computer you’re accessing the internet from a location with fewer restrictions. Government-placed limitations prevent freedom of expression or carefree internet browsing.

2. Remove ISP Filters

Countries often use internet service providers (ISP) filters to block certain sites. The United States does this for some websites, although social media is not among their list of banned destinations. It’s a much less controversial and under-the-radar method of banning internet access.

If you’re in a country that uses this method to block your social sites, it’s one of the easiest problems to circumvent using a VPN. The government probably assumes that you’re unaware of this quiet method of censorship, but your VPN will remove ISP filters and enable free access to any website.

3. Prevent ASN Blocking

Autonomous System Number (ASN) blocking is one of the more controversial methods governments use to block social sites. It’s a more complex system that takes away all control from ISPs and consumers because it “tricks” the infrastructure into blocking a website.

Regulators identify an IP range that contains the IP address of the website they want to block. They allocate a smaller ASN to a certain website to block it. It forcers the routers to go through a government-controlled version of your website rather than the original site. When connecting to Wi-Fi and data in these countries, you’ll be unable to access the site as it was originally intended.

Unless you have a VPN, of course. You can simply change the IP address location so that the ASN hack your government used doesn’t impact you in the slightest.

4. Circumvent Whitelisting

In countries with ridiculous internet censorship problems like North Korea, whitelisting is the most common method of website blockage. Essentially, they have a Big Brother hold on all internet service providers and routers so that nobody can offer websites that they don’t approve. They have a few select sites that you can access (the white list), and the rest are on the blacklist.

You can use a VPN to visit any website in North Korea, and it’s surprising that more people aren’t doing it. Perhaps they’re unaware or they’re happy living in ignorance. If you’re not, use a VPN. It’s one of the best ways to allow unbridled access to the internet with a simple IP address adjustment.

5. Unblock Encrypted Traffic and Deep Packet Inspects

China’s solution for blocking social media sites that encourage freedom of expression is to block communications between devices and their internet networks. Unless the governing body determines that the contents of a website are acceptable to their freedom of speech laws, they won’t grant you access.

This method, like that of whitelisting, requires complete control over the internet infrastructure so they can force ISPs to censor all content they deem unacceptable. Unfortunately for these governments, there are many ways around the bans, including ISP hacks and a VPN. Your iron-clad tunnel to the network has no room for government intervention, and governments haven’t figured out a way how to prevent VPN access, and they probably never will.

VPNs are a godsend for those in countries with unfair laws about freedom of speech and censorship. It’s an affordable addition to your internet costs, and it’s well worth the investment for your innate rights to privacy.

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Digital influencers go beyond celebrities; a digital influencer can be any regular person with the power to influence the perception of others.  Influencer marketing is employing the ability to change the public’s perceptions about brands and products, which can lead consumers to buy products and, hopefully, become loyal customers.

Different influencers have different reaches and credibility in specific niches, and therefore, will charge differently for their services.  The reason why social media influencers get interested in marketing is straightforward: regular people can make money from their power to influence the number of followers they have, and the quality of the relationship they build with them.  But why is this relevant for marketers?

Influencer marketing is growing

The overall trends in digital marketing indicate that influencer marketing is becoming more relevant.  The Influencer Marketing Hub 2017 Study produced some interesting data; the study documented a 325% increase in searches on “influencer marketing” in a 12-month-period, and 230 new platforms and influencer marketing focused agencies in a 24-month-period.  On the marketers’ side, the Hub also found that 37% of the surveyed companies had budgeted for influencer marketing, while 67% planned to increase their budget in the next 12 months. Another study, by the Association of National Advertisers, found that approximately 75% of the surveyed brands are utilizing influencer marketing, while almost half of them are planning on increasing their budgets for it over the next 12 months.

As you can see, different pieces of data point to the same trend: the growth of influencer marketing.  On top of that, Edelman’s 2017 Global Trust Barometer found that 55% of people trust individuals, while only 45% trust institutions, resonating a broader trust crisis that hits politics, business, and media.  According to the Fullscreen and Shareablee report, 37% of people engaging with influencer posts say their trust in a brand increases when an influencer mentions a brand; this is especially true for younger audiences: 44.3% of Gen Z and young millennials surveyed trust influencers over brands, which is also true for 35.7% of older millennials.

 How can marketers connect with influencers?

A brand that understands the importance of social media influencers will need ways to connect with them. That might explain why Facebook launched its Brand Collabs Manager search engine–to help connect marketers to social media influencers.  Such an effort by the biggest social media platform reinforces the relevance this kind of marketing is attaining. But for those firms who want to go beyond Facebook and reach the younger audience that is increasingly interested in Instagram, Snapchat, and Youtube — there are further ways to connect.

PATRON, a company recently founded by Atsushi Hisatsumi–an individual who was previously a social media influencer in Japan–seeks to bridge this connection with influencers through an app that will be launched later this year.  The platform, built on blockchain technology, will connect brands to influencers in different niches, according to their dissemination ability, their power to engage others, and the evaluations they received from other users.  MuseFind, a web, and mobile-based platform seeks to provide brands and marketing agencies a way to manage their influencer marketing campaigns.  The company is also offering a self-learning resource, called the Influencer Marketing Academy.

These and other platforms can also support those who want to become influencers.  As mentioned before, social media influencing is not exclusive to celebrities, regular people who want to become social media influencers can do it too, all they need to do is put in some effort!  It is important to find a niche in which you have some authority or knowledge.  As for the content created, one should consider not only expanding the number of followers but also building a relationship based on trust with them.  With that in mind, it is possible to become a channel through which brands want to communicate with customers.

Influencer marketing is a rising trend in digital marketing.  Consumers are increasingly more inclined to trust digital influencers, and that might snowball as niches expand.  In that scenario, the goal of marketers is to make connections with potential customers and increase trust in their brand.  The goal of influencers is to expand their reach and trust in order to connect with their audience and also benefit financially from their power.  The social media influencing story is still unfolding, but for now, there seems to be a rare instance where everyone–consumers, brands, and digital influencers–can take advantage of this nascent market, become involved, and share a piece of the pie.

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While there are plenty of good business ideas out there, there are plenty of not-so-great ideas as well. And even if you have a good idea, it may not be the right idea for you. So, how can you tell if you’ve come up with the right business idea? Below are a few indicators that the business idea you’ve got on your brain is the right one for you to pursue.

The Numbers Make Sense

Starting a business costs money. Even if you plan to bootstrap, there will likely be at least some expenses you’ll have to cover to get your business up and running. It’s important to sit down and calculate exactly how much you’ll need to take your business from the idea phase and turn it into a full-blown operation. You’ll also need to consider whether or not the price point at which you have to sell your product(s) or service(s) makes sense and will appeal to your customers.

Once you’ve calculated everything, looked at how much you’ll need, and considered how much you’ll have to charge to make things work, you can decide whether or not the numbers make sense. If they do, then you’re off to a great start.

Your Product or Service Solves a Problem/Helps Others

There is a lot to consider when deciding whether or not your business idea is the right one. Not only do the numbers need to make sense, but your product or service has to offer value as well. Generally, if your product or service solves a widespread problem, relieves a pain point, or helps others in any way, it’s a product or service that adds value. For example, Studypool is a company that offers students study tools and homework help and gives would-be tutors a chance to help out.

As simple as the idea behind Studypool may be, their services help people solve problems and get help, making it a valuable business. If your idea will solve any problems or help others in any way, then you’re on the right track to having the right business idea.

You’ve Talked to Your Target Market and They Love the Idea

One of the best ways to tell whether or not your idea is a good one is to throw it out there and listen to the feedback that comes back. While you can run the idea by family and friends, if they’re not part of your target market, you’ll want to run it by people in your target market as well. If you let them know about your idea and your product or service and the feedback is generally positive and comes with excitement, then that’s a good indicator that you’ve got the right business idea.

The Market Research Proves There’s a Need

Market research takes time and effort, but it’s an important part of exploring a potential business idea. Not only does your target market need to like your idea, but they also need to have a need for it. If there’s not a need in the space for the product or service you plan to offer, even if it’s a great product or service, it’s not likely to do well. If you do the research necessary and discover there’s a need in the space, though, you’re on the right track to having the right business idea.

Your Business Has Benefits that the Competition Can’t Offer

It’s been said that there are no original ideas. While that saying may feel true if you’re trying to come up with a unique business idea of your own, the truth is that your business idea doesn’t have to be 100 percent original to be the right idea or to do well. You could offer a similar product or service to other existing companies out there, but if your product or service includes something that your competitors don’t or can’t offer, then you can feel confident that you’ve got a good business idea.

Your Business Couldn’t Be Easily Copied or Overtaken

Not only does a good business idea have something that competitors can’t offer, but it has something that makes it difficult for competitors or other companies to copy or take over. Some ideas are good but will be bought out or out-competed by larger companies in a matter of months. If your idea includes an element or aspect of business that cannot be easily copied or overrun, then you can feel confident that you’re on the right track.

You Can’t Get the Idea Out of Your Head

Some business ideas stick with you, even if you’re in the middle of another project or starting another business. For example, Studypool’s founder, Richard Werbe, is also pursuing his own side project, Apollo Club. Even if you have an existing, successful business, if you have another idea that you can’t get out of your head and keep coming back to, that’s an indicator that your idea is worth looking into further and possibly pursuing more aggressively.

In Conclusion

Coming up with the right business idea can be difficult. Sometimes you may already have the right business idea without realizing it. By looking into the numbers, considering the need in the market, and giving your idea a competitive edge, you can feel more confident that your idea is the right idea and is worth the time it will take to pursue it.

What else makes you think you’ve found the right business idea?

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Promoting More On Social

A big part of marketing your restaurant is becoming more active on social media. This has practically become a standard piece for promotion, in fact, as noted by Restaurant Business Online, 82 percent of restaurants devote at least part of their marketing budget toward social media. However, navigating what exactly to do with social can be somewhat of an interesting hurdle, particularly in what you can and can’t advertise.

Depending on what state you’re in, advertising your restaurant on social media can be somewhat of a headache. For example, certain state alcohol laws prohibit restaurants from promoting happy hour specials on social media, with some even going as far as not allowing any advertisement of alcohol at all. Despite these limitations, there are still some great strategies you can use to promote more on social media, including utilizing professional looking product shots, promoting events, pictures of staff or patrons, and even taking part in the latest viral challenge. The goal for your restaurant’s social media campaign should be for people to not only have a point of discovery for what you serve but what the ambiance and brand are like too, as all of these factors collectively help influence the customer’s decision to come.

Provide The Proper Tools

Another important factor in running a successful business is having the proper tools in place to maximize revenues. Although many restaurants try to cut corners in hopes it will save them money, that’s not always the wisest decision as inefficient processes can lose 20 to 30 percent of revenue (according to Entrepreneur). Instead, ensuring that you put in the proper procedures upfront will not only help save money but time as well.

Start running through all of the processes you use for your restaurant on a day-to-day basis, as well as where your problem areas are. From inventory audits to portion sizing, every little thing should be accounted for. Furthermore, take a glance at what items could be improved from a time perspective as well. For example, sending Echecks to vendors for shipments rather than trying to provide cash receipts could save time. Take your time in listing out the pro’s and con’s of each tool, as this is a decision that should be calculated to a T.

Knowing How To Budget

As important as it is to implement the proper tools, having a solid budget in place is even more of an important step for success. One of the biggest mistakes a lot of restaurant owners make is overlooking their accounting on food or other items they’re paying by the weight but not accounting for selling by the weight. This, plus turnover and no marketing is why 19 percent of restaurants fail in their first year, and if you’re looking to avoid that, hitting the books on the daily is crucial.

Keep A Dedicated Team

According to Toasttab, the average turnover rate for a restaurant is a whopping 73 percent. That figure is well above other industries, and to keep that down, you’ve got to have a dedicated team around you. A big way to solve this is by treating your employees with respect, working with what’s going on with their lives, and showing them they’re a valued member of your team. Just because you’re a restaurant doesn’t mean you can’t have employee happiness that mirrors the likes of Google or Facebook, which should be the bar you’re trying to set. And of course, as money comes first, always do your best to take care of your staff, even on a slow night.

What Others Are Saying Can Make A Big Difference

Finally, word of mouth is perhaps one of the most important marketing goals for any business, which especially rings true for restaurants as well. According to Upserve, online reviews tend to impact approximately 67.7 percent of purchasing decisions, and what’s the first place we go to when we’re thinking about going out to eat? Our phones. Because of this, it’s a good practice to encourage customers to write positive reviews (perhaps even offering a coupon if so), as well as responding honestly to any negative you might receive. Do your best to hit the mark as much as you can, as getting good word of mouth will help your business spread like hotcakes.

What are some strategies you’ve used to ensure the business stays steady at your restaurant? Comment with your insights below!

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Has technology made finding a suitable candidate easier for companies or finding the right opening pain-less for applicants? The answer is a little more complicated than you might think. Companies who post job openings online benefit from exposure to a massive talent pool but also risk losing quality candidates during the time-intensive process of screening a deluge of applications. One recruiting expert recently estimated that each corporate job opening receives an average of 250 resumes–and the less specialized the position is, the higher that number becomes. Candidates looking for a good fit not only have to navigate annoying job application interfaces and crude screening procedures, they also have to deal with job scams and fake postings.

Taking recruiting online has eliminated some problems from the job hunt, but it’s created others. Luckily, continued advancements in recruiting technology are starting to make the job hunt a better, more productive experience for job seekers and companies alike. Here’s how;

Technology For The “Candidate As Consumer”

A glut of vacancies and the realization that candidates establish brand loyalties and share brand experiences in their social networks have contributed to the “candidate-as-consumer” recruitment model. Hirers have to court passive and active candidates just as they would court consumers, developing and showing-off a positive workplace culture and an emotionally resonant brand. Technology that contributes negatively to the candidate experience can harm companies just like tech that degrades consumer’ experiences. One study found that 72% of candidates with “terrible” application experiences shared their feelings on sites such as glassdoor.com; this shows that recruiting tech can have long-term consequences for companies’ reputations. Companies looking to create a better job application experience are turning to technology, relying on better, more mobile-friendly, and less cumbersome job application interfaces.

Immersive Experiences Through Virtual and Augmented Reality

VR and AR are mostly known for their gaming applications, but a growing number of companies are beginning to recognize that they also have applications in the recruiting world. German railroad company Deutsche Bahn has started using VR headsets at job fairs to give recruits an immersive experience of different available positions. The headsets don’t just grab attention–even in a crowded field of employers and openings–they also help candidates assess whether the job would be a good fit for them before moving forward with interviews and site visits.

AI-Assisted Screening

Artificial intelligence isn’t just a sci-fi concept anymore. Recruiting is one of the many industries currently being shaped by this rapidly evolving technology. A 2017 study found that roughly a third of respondents already used AI at some point in their hiring process. Companies such as Ideal offer resume-screening AIs that can help companies filter torrents of online resumes for ideal candidates. Tools such as HireVue use AI to conduct video interviews with clients, analyzing their emotional intelligence, word choice, and other “soft skills” that are difficult to read through a resume alone. At its best, AI is increasing fairness in the application process by helping the most qualified candidates stand out. However, data scientists remind us that it’s essential to deploy AI in a manner that detects true job compatibility rather than replicating previous hiring biases.

Assessments to Close the Soft Skills Gap

“Skill gaps” that keep employers from finding lasting quality candidates aren’t always about specific technical abilities. LinkedIn estimates that the U.S. is short about 1.4 million professionals with so-called “soft skills” such as problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and communication. While employers can screen candidates for specific technical abilities such as a programming language, screening for soft skills is notoriously tricky, particularly if companies conduct preliminary screenings before bringing candidates in for one-on-one interviews. A growing suite of assessment technologies now helps companies filter for candidates with excellent soft skills before entering the interview stage. Platforms such as WIN Learning, Capsim, and HireVue, can help companies measure soft skills.

Blockchain Accountability

The blockchain is another technology sweeping several industries at once, and recruiting is no exception. The same immutable distributed ledger that supports complex, high-value transaction networks like Bitcoin can also store data related to the world of recruiting. Companies such as BHIRED.io are building high-quality hiring and recruiting platforms on top of a blockchain; this technology can protect high-quality data such as verified credentials attached to a biometric profile, incentivize positive contributions to job application platforms with cryptocurrency tokens, and safeguard applicants, hiring managers, and recruiters from fraud by creating tamper-proof reputation systems.

As technology continues to evolve, there’s no need for recruiting to remain out-of-date. The advancements mentioned above will help make the job hunt easier for everyone, whether they’re looking for the perfect job or the perfect employee.

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One of the best ways to utilize Facebook as a business tool is through Facebook ads; however, if they’re not optimized and working properly, then they can seem like more of a waste of time and money than a useful way to build your business and get conversions. Several things could cause your Facebook ads to fail, and if yours aren’t working how you want, then here are ten possible reasons why:

1.  You Aren’t Keeping Up with Facebook Ad Changes

Technology is always changing, and so are the policies, practices, and algorithms. As Facebook makes changes to everything from their algorithms to their core mission, Facebook ads, the way they work, and the practices to optimize them change too. If you’re not keeping up with those changes and adjusting your practices and campaigns as necessary, your campaigns are likely significantly less effective than before.

2.  You Aren’t Running Tests

Although there are guidelines and best practices to follow, each business is unique and so is each customer base, so there’s no way to know for sure that an ad will perform well until you test and prove it. If you’re coming up with ads, publishing them, and letting them run their course without looking at the analytics and seeing how they performed, then your Facebook ads will not work as well as they could.

3.  You Aren’t Making Adjustments as You Go

Not only is it important to test different ads and to analyze the results of each test, but it’s important to make adjustments accordingly. Even if you are looking at how certain ads performed, if you’re not adjusting your other ads to meet the standards that your ads that are performing well set, then you’re missing out on a lot of opportunities and not taking full advantage of the benefits that Facebook ads offer.

4.  You Don’t Know Your Customers Well Enough

83 percent of Facebook users are women and 75 percent are men, but those aren’t the only things you need to know when you start running Facebook ad campaigns. Age range, location, and other demographics factor in as well. But you need to take it even further and get to know your customers and ideal customers on a personal level—not just where they live and how old they are, but what their favorite brands are, whether or not they like dogs, where they vacation every year, and any other information applicable to your company and product. If you don’t know your customers well, you can’t target your Facebook ads well, making them much less effective than they could be.

5.  Your Copy is Uninteresting

What you write in your ad is extremely important, and if your copy is uninteresting and doesn’t grab the attention of your audience, then your ads aren’t going to be very effective. Your headline needs to grab attention, and the body copy should say what it is you’re selling and why your customer needs it, all in a few words.

6.  Your Copy Looks Spammy

Not only should your copy be interesting, but it should be clear and concise. If you’re throwing in too many fluff words or too much jargon, are using images that have too many words on them, or are using headlines that sound like clickbait, you’re probably turning your potential customers off and rendering your Facebook ads ineffective.

7.  Your Site is Unprofessional and Therefore Untrustworthy

What does your website or landing page that customers are taken to after clicking your ad look like? If it has a lot of text, flashing banners, pop-ups, unprofessional logos, and other inconsistencies, then it’s likely scaring off potential customers. Unprofessional translates to untrustworthy in the mind of many consumers and so your website could be counteracting all of the work your Facebook ads have done.

8.  Your Facebook Page Isn’t Current

Not only is it important to have a current, functional, professional website for potential customers to land on, but it’s also important to keep your Facebook page current and professional as well. If you’re not posting regularly, replying to comments and questions, and otherwise keeping your Facebook page up-to-date, it can be a point of concern for potential customers since they’ll wonder if you’re still in business, if you’re legitimate, and if they will even get an order that they place with you. Many customers will look into a company on Facebook, and if your page isn’t current, it could cost you that business and the price of the click on the ad.

9.  Your Budget is Too Low

You shouldn’t be pouring all of your money into just one marketing channel or another, but it’s important that you have an appropriate budget for each. If your budget for Facebook ads is too low, then your ads won’t get the running time or exposure that they may need to get the ROI you should be getting. You don’t need to overspend but having too low a budget could be causing your Facebook ads to fail.

10.  You Don’t Include Strong Calls to Action

Calls to action are an important part of any marketing. If you don’t include a strong call to action, people may not be inclined to click what they need to and make a conversion. If you’re using weak or generic calls to action on your Facebook ads, they may not be working as effectively as they could be. Using strong, enticing calls to action that evoke a sense of urgency or excitement is something you need to do if you want your Facebook ads to perform better.

An Effective Solution

A lot of things could be causing your Facebook ads not to work as effectively as they should be. You may not have the time or know-how to fix all of them and get things running like they need to be, though. For example, if you don’t have the time to keep up with changes to Facebook’s algorithms and policies, if you don’t know how to set the optimal budget, or if you don’t even have time to keep your Facebook page active and current, then working on making your Facebook ads more effective can be hard.

Instead of trying to take it all on yourself, hiring a trusted firm such as 180fusion may be the perfect solution to give you the results you need without having to hire extra employees or take too much time out of your schedule to figure things out on your own. Many times you can receive a free analysis, making it worth a shot if you want to start making the most of the Facebook ads that you have.

What do you think is causing your Facebook ads to fail?

The post The Top 10 Reasons Your Facebook Ads Aren’t Working appeared first on Social Media Explorer.