Repurposing Content and Content Curation

We live in a digital age, where information is no longer found through the phone book or word-of-mouth; rather, people get their information from the Internet, primarily using search engines such as Google. Because of this Internet phenomenon, having an online presence as a business is the best possible strategy for marketing your company and services. However, not everyone is a natural writer and not everything needs a blog post. Repurposing content and content curation can be a great way to share valuable information to your customers and prospective customers through your website. Here’s how to create meaningful content that’s been repurposed:

What Exactly is Content Curation?

Content curation refers to the process of finding already existing content and organizing that content in a way that’s relevant to your customers or potential customers. Oftentimes, content curation can involve using very similar content but on a new medium, hence the name “repurposing” content, or giving the content a new purpose. Creating high quality repurposed content involves more than just using already existing content, though; high-quality content will also add new information, a new perspective, or new relevant questions.

What’s the Point of Content Curation?

Content curation is a marketing tool that’s used by companies for their blogs or websites. The point of content curation is to provide valuable information to your customers or potential customers by cutting down the time they spend sifting through useless information. By using content curation, you create content that provides important information to site visitors that’s easy to find and navigate.

How Does Content Curation Work?

Content curation has three primary aspects that go into its creation, which are filtering, analysis, and social rating. Each of these three things can be done either manually or automatically, depending upon the technology that you have access to.

Filtering: Filtering is exactly what is sounds like—choosing material (either through personal preference, votes and views from a social community, or due to the information’s relevance) that should be included in future content based on its current effectiveness.

Analysis: Semantic analysis is the process of looking at a problem and finding information and relationships between existing information that answer that problem. For example, if the problem is “How do I explain my product?” then semantic analysis looks at content to ensure that it’s solving the problem by examining the relationship between statements, facts, and sources in the content.

Social Rating: Social rating simply means that the content that you choose for repurposing was chosen based on the fact that it received a high social rating. This is usually used for social media sites, like Facebook.

When you’re attempting to repurpose content for your own blog or website, the most important aspect you should focus on is filtering already existing information, and adding new, relevant content, too. Use hyperlinks, incorporate multimedia, address the problem, and make a schedule for yourself of when you'll be posting.  

Why You Should Repurpose and Curate Content

Copying and pasting old information into a new blog post simply for the sake of having something on your website isn’t helpful—it doesn’t provide customers with any new information whatsoever.

What is helpful, however, is taking bits and pieces of old information and making it new and exciting for those who visit your site/blog. A great example of repurposing content was Martin Brossman’s Hangout-On-Air with David Amerland about “What’s Beyond Interruption Advertising?” When Brossman went to put the information on his blog, it would have been really easy to just transcribe the dialogue. Instead, though, Brossman added new, free content and ideas that he learned in the interview, and organized it in an easy-to-navigate and relevant fashion.

Essentially, your job is to find content that you think is meaningful, and then to explain why it’s meaningful to your customers. By doing so, you’ll be creating a website or blog with a strong online presence, you’ll drive more traffic to your site, and you’ll be providing customers and potential customers with what they need.

Sources

http://www.theguardian.com/media-network-outbrain-partner-zone/6-tips-repurposing-content

http://blog.hootsuite.com/3-strategies-for-repurposing-content/

http://www.fathomdelivers.com/20-ways-to-repurpose-content/

http://www.bethkanter.org/content-curation-101/

http://mashable.com/category/content-curation/ 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/grant-cardone/creating-an-internet-pres_b_642086.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_curation

by Olga Santo Tomás Monroe   919-604-0104   olgamaria3@aol.com

Social Media and Online Marketing  Management

Connect to me on G+: https://plus.google.com/+OlgaSantoTom%C3%A1sMonroe/posts

The Merlin Technique

The Merlin Technique

Whether you’re a business owner, a manager, an employee, or just an individual, knowing how to problem solve is an essential part of life. Sometimes, though, problems that present themselves in an organization are much more complex than a simple solution can handle. In situations like these, knowing how to brainstorm—either individually or as a group—is a critical skill. One type of brainstorming technique that’s used for product, service, or situation improvement is known as the Merlin technique. The Merlin technique subjects the problem at hand to a number of hypothetical changes. Here’s how to implement the Merlin technique into your next creative session:

Involve the Group

While the Merlin technique can be done alone, as the old adage goes, “two brains are better than one.” And with that, a whole group of brains is certainly even better. The Merlin technique takes brainstorming to a whole new level, so encourage group members to put on their thinking caps and really get crazy with their ideas. With the Merlin technique, no idea is a bad idea—think big, and don’t hold back.

Get the Proper Materials

Whenever you hold a group brainstorming session, make sure that you have all the proper materials you need. Depending upon the size of employees you have present, divide people up into manageable groups, small enough that everyone’s idea can be heard. Each group should have access to flipcharts or large pieces of paper, individual notebooks and pens, and markers. The flipcharts should be divided into four columns, titled Enlarge, Reduce, Eliminate, and Reverse.

Enlarging the Problem

The first step of the Merlin technique encourages thinkers to enlarge the problem at hand, whether that be the product, the service, or a negative situation. Extend the problem beyond one customer or one malfunctioning piece of equipment, beyond a price that’s slightly too high or an area that’s too complex. What would happen if the problem were magnified to this hypothetical extent?

Reducing the Problem

The second part of the Merlin technique involves reducing everything about the product, the problem, or the service. Just as you just enlarged the problem to a very unreasonable scale, now think about the problem using a much smaller scale. If you thought about a service problem that involvedevery single customer, now think about that service problem only affecting a single customer. How does this change the problem? How does it change the solution?

Eliminating the Problem

In this step of the Merlin technique, ask group members to completely eliminate the problem at hand. If the problem didn’t exist, what would the company look like? Would the problem be replaced with something else?

Reversing the Problem

The fourth step in the Merlin technique is to reverse the problem entirely. For example, instead of your company having to pay x amount of money for a product, what if that product had to pay your company x amount of money? How would that change the dynamic? A lot of fun and creative ideas are usually generated during this part of the process.

Putting Ideas Into Action

You should allow group members approximately ten minutes to work on each of the four sections of the Merlin technique. When everyone’s finished, review everyone’s list as a group for idea that jump out, and work together to create solid proposals from even the wildest of suggestions. In essence, elaborate on the best ideas, and put together a plan of action. You’ll be surprised with just how effective the Merlin technique really is.

by Olga Santo Tomás Monroe   919-604-0104   olgamaria3@aol.com

Social Media and Online Marketing  Management

Connect to me on G+: https://plus.google.com/+OlgaSantoTom%C3%A1sMonroe/posts

Social Media Tools: Class 2 of Core Competency in Social Media for Business Success

The second of, Martin Brossman’s, Core Competency in Social Media for Business Success class went into more depth on how to build your G+ network by encouraging us to:

**Passionately care & understand customers (&/ or networks).

**Post relevant content by connecting to the real world & how others relate.

**Post relevant content; be a reporter & share quality information by looking through our networks' eyes & ears.


The next topic, Facebook, started with setting the personal & business Facebook page.

Emphasis was placed on the Timeline; You can post events, visuals, text & other media in the past (in addition to the present & future!).

The main points are:

**Facebook gives higher ranking to posts that are directly added (to Facebook) versus a lower ranking for posts that come in via other applications.

**Spread out media, pictures & posts over time instead of putting  them up all at once.

**Claim your personalized URL for a memorable Facebook title.

**Go to the business’ ‘likes’ to see who your ‘likers’ like for more insight into your network.

**A ‘story’ is created when any type of engagement occurs; 'likes', comments, sharing or posting.

**Facebook is watching our ‘affinity for information’  through our engagement on FaceBook. 

**We need people engaging & talking about topics.  Yet, it’s the people ‘watching’ where the new business comes!

**People that sell at a personal level are getting extremely positive results  using the "list" feature by 'honing in on a niche' and serving it, successfully.

**Create events  for added visibility on the internet (this goes for Google+, too).

The main concept that I was reminded of, during this second class; is the importance of being present, in the moment & appreciating each experience as if it were the first.  Each Social Media 'story' is an opportunity to teach by sharing relevant information.  Many times, as professionals, we take for granted the knowledge we've built up in our areas of expertise. 

As Martin says, "People fall asleep to the greatness around them.”   By looking at each opportunity with 'new' eyes; we are able to share facts, ideas & experiences as 'stories, posts & media'.  Thereby, including our internet networks in our 'bank' of knowledge & expertise!

This class is providing a solid base of knowledge for the next level of enrollment into the 'official' Social Media Management Training.  Stay in the moment, appreciate it's many blessings & share via Social Media

Call me at 919-604-0104 or email olgamaria3@aol.com for your own, customized Social Media and Online Marketing Evaluation.

by Olga Santo Tomás Monroe 919-604-0104 olgamaria3@aol.com 

Connect to me on Google+ and LinkedIn 

How to Maximize Your Presence on Google+: Tips for Your G+ Personal Page, Business Page & Authorship

“It’s a moving target.”  Martin Brossman (in regards to Google)

What is Google+? 

Google+  is an efficient forum for people with like-minded interests to connect with each other.  Your Google+ profile (located on your Google+ Page)  shares details about who you are as well as explaining how others can do business with you.  For example, besides telling about yourself, background, interests and current business involvement it’s helpful to include links, opportunities and alternative places where other contacts can communicate with you NOW.

I say NOW, because we live in a world where ease, convenience and access are essential. Make it easy for someone to respond to their impulse to connect with you, NOW!

When filling out your Google+ Profile:

** include your current employer, what you are doing & anything else relevant to your business/ interests. 

To find prospects, connections and contacts:

** ‘Cruise’ through Google+ (as if you were ‘channel surfing’ through your TV) to find others with similar interests, businesses and activities.

What is a Google+ Business Page?

The Google+ Business page  and Personal Page are different in that the Business page is like a brochure mixed with a business card and the Personal Page includes more about your personal activities.  However, if your profession takes up the majority of your personal activities then you will, likely, experience tremendous ‘business bonding’ through your personal page.

Google+ Business is a local business listing center, introduced by Google, to replace Google Place pages.  When consumers search for local products and services, these show up in the search results; making it easy for businesses to socialize with customers and prospects and for consumers to find local businesses.

Google+ Local pages integrates with Google Search, Google Maps and Google Mobile Maps.

What is Google+ Authorship?

Google Authorship, as shown on my associate's page, is the next level to the world of Google.  Through Google Authorship you can link content you publish on a specific domain to your Google+ profile.  Sign up for Google+ and create a Google+ profile.

When you set up your personal page, make sure you have the following:

*a profile photo with a recognizable headshot.

*a byline containing your name that appears on every page of your content.

*a matching byline name to the name on Google + profile so that Google will be able to pick it up.  Google is a machine so everything has to match exactly or it won’t work.

The few lines of text that appear under every search result (‘rich snippets’)—are designed to give users a sense for what’s on the page and why it’s relevant to their query.  These rich snippets shows up in the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) along  with a lot of other information.

Tips to remember:

**Make sure that your face is recognizable.

**Use your real name.

**Use this name across all your web properties.

**Add the Google + icon to your website.

**Keep the same image on your Google + profile face photo.

**Use your real name on YouTube.  YouTube & Google + are connected.  This gives you another authorship page.

Follow these principles across all of your web properties that you are an actual author on.  Adding Google+ website on all your posts, will increase rankings for you. Google+ Personal, Business and post pages will rank in the same way or better in searches than regular web pages.  Also, Google+ posts can keep their ranking without time limitations.

What does Google+ have to do with Branding?

Branding, in today’s culture, is most known for a name, logo, slogan, and/or design scheme associated with a product or service.  Brand management is the application of marketing techniques to a specific product, product line, or brand.  Personal branding includes people and their careers marketed as brands.  Take advantage of this opportunity to link your Google+ profile (through Personal & Business Pages) to the content that you create.  It’s a very efficient way to maximize on ‘branding‘ and get yourself more visible on the internet!

Call me at 919-604-0104 or email olgamaria3@aol.com for your own, customized Social Media and Online Marketing Evaluation.

by Olga Santo Tomás Monroe 919-604-0104 olgamaria3@aol.com 

Connect to me on Google+ and LinkedIn 

(Footnotes-ideas for this article came from Chris Brogan & Mark Traphagen)

Social Media Tools: Class 1 of Core Competency in Social Media for Business Success

“The ability to adapt to a constantly changing environment--something which makes human beings quite edgy, especially as they get older, is a necessity to survive this 21st century internet dominated world.”  Anora McGaha

Martin Brossman's Core Competency in Social Media for Business Success is a 4-part class that goes over all the fundamentals of the top social media platforms in detail and teaches how to use them.

The first (of 4 sessions) began with emphasizing that business owners take advantage of all of the ‘free local listings’ available.  These listings are, constantly, evolving, increasing & adapting to the market.  The key is to stay up-to-date on your “Free Listing Resources” and to use them by listing your business, location and services that you offer.

The main steps are:

**Set up your Personal Profiles

**Create your Networks & connect with others

** Explore the intricate features available, to you, as a Google+ member

**Set up your Business Page & Google Local

**Take time to tour through Google+.  The G+ world is constantly changing & evolving.

As a Social Media Manager I recommend that you focus on the moment & the action.  Know what you are doing and be prepared for something else to come along!  Be open and aware of your environment (whatever is going on within the media site or internet) and be willing to adjust.  

Call me at 919-604-0104 or email olgamaria3@aol.com for your own, customized Social Media and Online Marketing Evaluation.

by Olga Santo Tomás Monroe 919-604-0104 olgamaria3@aol.com 

Connect to me on Google+ and LinkedIn 

Hands on Photography Workshop for Web & Social Media Including Phone Apps & Video Insights

We brought our laptops, smart phones, cameras  & video recorders to David Williams', full-day, Web & Social Media Photography Workshop.  The Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce  provided a very comfortable room &  Charron’s Deli served a delicious, homemade lunch.

Most importantly........What did we cover, that will benefit YOU?

David began with an introduction to basic photography by explaining the “Exposure Triangle”. 

                                                   Shutter speed, aperture  & ISO all work together.

Since most of our cameras, especially the phone versions, take care of these details automatically; I will focus on how to use this knowledge to take better pictures!

Tips for taking better images: 

**The best camera is the one with you; which in most cases will be your smart phone.

**Be conscious of your subject’s surroundings by noticing the light, perspective, & strategy for your photo.

**Be prepared!  Train yourself to ‘be a reporter’. 

**Let your eyes be a camera; look at the scene & ask yourself, “What’s the shot I want to get? What will this look like as a photograph?” 

**Break your frame into 3 sections (rule of thirds); compose as much as you can in the camera so you have room for text + subject.

**Use the foreground to compose & create the effect with the background blurred to pull attention to the subject.

**Use smart phone apps to promote your brand on Social Media Platforms, when you are ‘on the go’.

Tips for filming video:

**Audio & light are critical to good video.

**Manage the audio by either taking the video outside (to prevent the echo that occurs inside) or using a microphone.    

Tips for editing & placement on the Web:

**Add text, to your photos, with the FREE online Editor: pixlr.com 

**Be sure to ‘save’ your pictures with seo friendly names & titles that are relevant to the image, location & event.  Your file name will translate into Social Media Platforms & be found through precise ‘file naming’.   

**Post images & video online properly by following the instructions on the specific Social Media Platform (i.e. YouTube, G+, Pinterest etc).        

** Use the correct search terms with multiple different variations of search terms so that google will pick up your media; get specific & think of ways that people can find you.

**Include your website, phone number & additional information, such as something about what’s going on, in the description.

**Take advantage of the keywords & the surrounding city(ies).

**Tag your media by being upfront & translucent.  YOUTUBE videos are one of the fastest things that rank on google.   

David used an example of a Panorama shot taken with his Sony.  He posted this on the Joyner Park page along with his identification.   When people see the picture, they can go back to David’s webpage.

Another useful idea is to find communities to join and share content (i.e. Photos & information) that they are interested in.  I know of several Social Media associates that belong to ‘Dog Communities’ on G+ & Pinterest.  They upload noteworthy pictures of dogs and include their contact information.

During our lunch break, Martin Brossman shared a special, 30-minute session on using Picasa (Google’s photo-editing program; now integrated into Google Plus).  

The main features that Martin pointed out include:

**Use Picasa to Watermark  photos with your simple & small logo, so G+ will pick it up.   

**Shoot still photos that overlap 30%; then upload them to G+ in the photo area; G+ will make a panorama picture of these (give it an hour to configure).

**G+ offers auto-awesome for the photos you upload.

**Android phone/ camera offers an automatic back up to your G+ account.

My most valuable ‘takeaway’, besides the technical learning, is how to ‘honestly’ build my brand on Social Media by promoting myself ‘non-promotionally’.  I know this sounds redundant!  This approach follows the ideal of providing the public with service through valuable content: i.e. information that people are happy to pause and receive!

Call me at 919-604-0104 or email olgamaria3@aol.com for your own, customized Social Media and Online Marketing Evaluation.

by Olga Santo Tomás Monroe 919-604-0104 olgamaria3@aol.com 

Connect to me on Google+ and LinkedIn