God Turns On His Side - Another Google Update

Google may -- or may not -- have updated last night. And, now, us social media types are hopping about like bunnies on a hotplate trying to figure out what that means to you, our clients and, also, to us.

What? But wait. (I can hear you saying.) Aren't you guys experts? Isn't that why I pay for you in the first place?

Well, yes. But everytime google updates the nature of the game changes and with that, we all have to make changes, too.

What most folks don't realize about social media is these companies don't really care about making sure that everyone sees the latest picture of you,r adorable new kitten. These companies are in it for the money. How do they make money? Well, we've all seen those, sometimes innappropriate, ads in our Facebook feeds or sponsored messages on Twitter, or featured posts at the top of our search engine inquiries. The money in social media comes from businesses trying to connect with users.

But now, again, a little known fact (that's well known in social media circles): The second most trusted way to choose a prospective service or product is by testimonials from strangers on the internet. From strangers. (The first, of course, is recommendations from family and friends.) Consequently, all major social media platforms are moving toward the referral system services (a paradigm that is already very profitable in China). All social media platforms would like to be the Number 1 referral engine in the west. So, expect to see lots of changes both on Facebook, Google+, and google results pages with that in mind.

What's so important about Google? Two out of every three online searches originate at google. Google cannot be ignored because what they are doing affects the bulk of customer inquiry on the internet and will influence how the rest of the market will operate.

This current update (if, in fact there was one) looks like it is changing the nature of search engine results and will reboot the debate about whether SEO (search engine optimization) is dead . I, for one, will be watching the situation closely; so I can bring you the best advice to help your online success.

So, my point? Your online presence is in need of constant monitoring and tweaking to maximize your online success because the game is changing constantly and without warning. Never trick yourself into thinking that you're done or god might roll right on top of you.

The One Big Mistake That's Killing Your Content

In my other life, I am a theatre artist: a freelance director. I direct between three and seven shows a year. Every show that gets out there is subject to criticism and, let me tell you, everybody's got an opinion. I've had people completely trash what was, arguably, my best work to date. And I have had that other imposter as well: unearned adoration.

So, I guess have grown quite a thick skin in the last twenty years and I have the ability to soldier on despite the possibility of heavy criticism on the other side. But most of us aren't lucky enough to have that background and we make the big mistake of worrying what other people will think of what we write or otherwise publish. Worrying about what others think will kill your content faster than the internet forgets a tweet storm.

But, you say, it's human nature to worry about what other people think of you. Doesn't it have to be good, I mean, really good? Doesn't it have to be perfect? I can't make one mistake! The white paper has got to be twenty pages long and meticulously edited; or the movie has to be done with a professional flare or it's no good; or the infographic needs to be chock-a-block with facts and figures....! Wait a second? How long is all this going to take?

While you are carefully putting together your amazing project, other people may have posted dozens of times with short, punchy movies, blogs, and graphics that catch the eye, make a point, and inform. Which is better, right now? I hate to say for all of you striving for perfection: short, clear messaged media is what is getting seen, read, reblogged-posted-tweeted.

Right, then. We need to learn how not to second guess ourselves. We need to learn how to press 'send' or 'publish' or 'post'. Read it once forward, once backward, do a spell check. Leave it a couple of hours and read it again or get your favourite proof-reader to take a look. Read it once forward, once backward, do a spell check. Accept that it will never be perfect. Press 'send'.

That idea is worth repeating: Accept that it will never be perfect. Press 'send'.

The way the interwebs are evolving, it's better to get that content out there consistently and reliably than to worry about any one of your posts being a magnum opus.

Good luck out there!

Jacqui Burke is a freelance social media marketer committed to helping small business build their profits through social media. Take a look at her website at www.jaybirdsocialmedia.com

5 FREE Social Media Tools I Use Every Day to Build My Business

1.       Hootsuite
http:www.hootsuite.com

Hootsuite is a posting platform that allows you to post across platforms at once, schedule posts to go out during the day, and generally do pretty much anything you can do on your various social media sites but from one location. Free up to five social media connections. Essentially, this platform allows you to reach more people with one post, and get all your posting done at one time. Natch!

2.       MailChimp
www.mailchimp.com

Mail Chimp is a tool for sending out graphically rich, appealing emails but, also, it keeps track of your list maintenance for you. You don`t have to do a thing! With email STILL being the number one way to connect to your potential clients, Mail Chimp has proven to be an invaluable tool. Free up to 2,000 contacts.

3.       Google Analytics
http://www.google.com/analytics

I am religious about checking out my and my clients`s stats every day to see if I can catch trends as they happen, or push more what works. Google Analytics is a solid tool to see where your traffic is coming from, visitor behaviour, and can even track conversions.

4.       Many Contacts
www.manycontacts.com

Want to increase your conversion rate? Use Many Contacts! Not only does this site make form building easy, it collects your data for you (and syncs it with your Mail Chimp – or other email service) automatically. Awesome!

5.       Google Keyword Tool
https://adwords.google.com/KeywordPlanner

If people are looking for your business online, how are they searching for it? Use Google Keyword Tool to increase optimization and boost your keyword strength. This is totally free but you need a google account to use it.

These tools are really great. If you need help setting these up or consulting, I am available for consulting and training on a reasonable per hour basis.  Contact me:

http://www.jaybirdsocialmedia.com

info@jaybirdsocialmedia.com

@jaybirdsocialmedia

+647-292-0210