Wednesday, March 5, 2014

10 Laws of Social Media Marketing

social media twitter stream flickr
Leveraging the power of content and social media marketing can help elevate your audience and customer base in a dramatic way. But getting started without any previous experience or insight could be challenging.
It's vital that you understand social media marketing fundamentals. From maximizing quality to increasing your online entry points, abiding by these 10 laws will help build a foundation that will serve your customers, your brand and -- perhaps most importantly -- your bottom line.
1. The Law of Listening
Success with social media and content marketing requires more listening and less talking. Read your target audience’s online content and join discussions to learn what’s important to them. Only then can you create content and spark conversations that add value rather than clutter to their lives.
2. The Law of Focus
It’s better to specialize than to be a jack-of-all-trades. A highly-focused social media and content marketing strategy intended to build a strong brand has a better chance for success than a broad strategy that attempts to be all things to all people.
3. The Law of Quality
Quality trumps quantity. It’s better to have 1,000 online connections who read, share and talk about your content with their own audiences than 10,000 connections who disappear after connecting with you the first time.
4. The Law of Patience
Social media and content marketing success doesn’t happen overnight. While it’s possible to catch lightning in a bottle, it’s far more likely that you’ll need to commit to the long haul to achieve results.
5. The Law of Compounding
If you publish amazing, quality content and work to build your online audience of quality followers, they’ll share it with their own audiences on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, their own blogs and more.
This sharing and discussing of your content opens new entry points for search engines like Google to find it in keyword searches. Those entry points could grow to hundreds or thousands of more potential ways for people to find you online.
6. The Law of Influence
Spend time finding the online influencers in your market who have quality audiences and are likely to be interested in your products, services and business. Connect with those people and work to build relationships with them.
If you get on their radar as an authoritative, interesting source of useful information, they might share your content with their own followers, which could put you and your business in front of a huge new audience.
7. The Law of Value
If you spend all your time on the social Web directly promoting your products and services, people will stop listening. You must add value to the conversation. Focus less on conversions and more on creating amazing content and developing relationships with online influencers. In time, those people will become a powerful catalyst for word-of-mouth marketing for your business.
8. The Law of Acknowledgment
You wouldn’t ignore someone who reaches out to you in person so don’t ignore them online. Building relationships is one of the most important parts of social media marketing success, so always acknowledge every person who reaches out to you.
9. The Law of Accessibility
Don’t publish your content and then disappear. Be available to your audience. That means you need to consistently publish content and participate in conversations. Followers online can be fickle and they won’t hesitate to replace you if you disappear for weeks or months.
10. The Law of Reciprocity
You can’t expect others to share your content and talk about you if you don’t do the same for them. So, a portion of the time you spend on social media should be focused on sharing and talking about content published by others. 

Friday, February 28, 2014

Top 5 Tax-Season Apps

It’s that time of year again! The dreaded tax-season has arrived! We’re not even sure what people did before they could submit their taxes from their cell phones – the madness that must have been, right?! ;) Check out the top 5 Tax-Season Apps to help you stay organized, complete your taxes, and most importantly…receive your refund check! Read on the see which apps will help you out the most! ShoeBoxed – FREE
Organization is key when it comes to doing your taxes. The more organized you are, the easier it will be and the quicker you will complete the dreaded task! This is exactly why we have made Shoeboxed number one on our list. Shoeboxed allows you to take photos of your receipts and store them in an online account. After you have downloaded the receipts, they are then sorted by date and category (e.g. meals, travel, fuel). When all is said and done, you have all your receipts organized and ready for tax season.
TaxCaster Mobile – FREE
This handy little app is brought to you by TurboTax and will help you quickly estimate whether or not you are going to be receiving a refund as well as an estimate on how much you will be getting back. The app asks you some simple question, such as income and deductions, and then it will calculate your refund or the amount you will have to pay. The app even lets you enter in different scenarios, such as having a baby, buying a new home, or getting a new job, to see how it could change the amount of tax liability in the next year.
H&R Block – FREE
Filing your taxes can be tricky. Has something changed for you this year? Did you get married, have a baby, move or start a new job? There are a lot of things to think about when filling out your tax forms and collecting all of the necessary paperwork to ensure that you receive the greatest refund that you can (cause who doesn’t want that!). Moral of the story – Tax season can be filled with questions – H & R Block can help! Download the FREE app and tap into more than 50 years of tax experience — no matter where you go!
Taxsoftware.com 4868 – $.99
Flash forward…tax season is almost over and you are sweating it – you think you might not make it on time. If you find yourself saying this come April, than the Form 4868 Extension app is the one for you! This .99 cent app from Taxsoftware.com allows you to file your 4868 Extension form directly from your smart phone or tablet. You will then receive an email that will let you know whether your extension was approved or denied. Simple as that!
IRS2GO – FREE
So, you’ve done it – you filed your taxes – congratulations! Now, for those lucky ones who will be receiving some sort of refund you might want to download IRS2go. With this app you can monitor the progress of your application and refund. One side note though, this app is only available to those who file their taxes electronically or through one of the apps, not for you paper-filers! ;)
Which Tax App will be most useful to you this season? Comment below and let us know!

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Creating miracles with the New DNA Miracles™ Natural Soothing Ointment


In less than a month since the release of the all new DNA Miracles™ products at MAWC 2014, they’re already making some huge waves! We want to share an amazing testimonial with you from one very happy mommy! The DNA Miracles Natural Soothing Ointment has done wonders for her precious little miracle! Read on to find out more!
This little miracle before using the DNA Miracles Natural Soothing Ointment
“I can’t say enough about the soothing ointment!!! My son has had terrible eczema for over a month- we have tried many topical products as well as me eliminating foods from my diet (he is 3.5 months and EBF). It just kept getting worse!!  until my order arrived Friday. I’ve been slathering him head to toe. And it started to clear up VERY noticeably within less than 12 hours. Miracles indeed!!!” – Sarah E. N. Bodoh
In the days since the arrival of their DNA Miracles Package – Sarah has seen HUGE improvements! 
We’re so glad that this product is working for Sarah and her son! We wish you nothing but the best…because every child is a miracle!

Monday, February 24, 2014

SHOP.COM Saturday: Partner Stores Update

We have spring and warmer weather on the brain here at headquarters! We’ve been working hard to bring you only the best deals and savings to help you get ready for the new season…or to stock up on end-of-season sales for next winter! Check out what we have been working on at SHOP.COM from new partner stores to hot deals and even an Extra Cashback Event! Read on to find out what is new this week at SHOP.COM:
New Stores
ShopTronics – 4% CB: ShopTronics strives to be your first choice for the best products, lightning fast shipping, and superior customer service.
Nomorerack – 6% CB: Simply unbeatable deals! Deals go live every day at 12pm EST. $2 Flat Shipping Per Item.
Great Deals
Loren Jewels – 2% CB: Fine Jewelry by Loren Jewels – The 36 hour sale begins Feb.21st at noon. (EST)
The Body Shop – 5% CB: 50% off hand creams at The Body Shop!
Macy’s – 3% CB: North Face End-Of-Season Savings – Save 25% on select Women’s clothing at Macys.com! Offer valid 1/29-3/26
Teavana – 5% CB: Enjoy $10 off orders of $50 or more plus FREE shipping and a tea sample with code SAVE10NOW at Teavana.com! Valid 02/01-02/28.
Entertainment.com – 12% CB: President’s Week Sale! All books $19.99 plus FREE shipping & additional books only $15 at Entertainment.com! This offer ends TOMORROW.
Under Armour – 6% CB: Shop Under Armour’s Country Pride T’s: Support your country as they hit the world stage.
Diaper Dude – 5% CB: Save 15% off any order at DiaperDude.com with promo code SHOP15 at checkout. Offer valid until 3/14.
Poppin – 9% CB: $10 off orders of $60 or more at Poppin.com! Use promo code SHOPPOP10. Offer ends 3/31.

Increased Cashback
Happy Socks: Was 2% CB, now 9% CB
Swimwear4me: Was 2% CB, now 7% CB
Silver Jeans: Was 5% CB, now 6% CB
JCPenney: Was 2% CB, now 3% CB
TopShop: Was 4% CB, now 5% CB
Mikasa: Was 2% CB, now 4% CB
Exclusive to CA.SHOP.COM
New Partner Stores
BuyAutoParts.com – 4% CB: Our online inventory of auto parts is a breeze to navigate. A ton of research has gone into making your online shopping experience simple and effortless. Simply Pick the year, Make, and model of your car and click search to see all the auto parts we carry for your vehicle. 
Great Deals
Dickies.ca – 1/3 off Men’s & Women’s scrubs Use Coupon Code – shopscrubs33. Offer ends 2/23
The Body Shop Canada – Receive $10 OFF any $20 purchase at The Body Shop! Use promo code MARKETAMERICA at checkout. Offer valid 2/21-2/24
Beyond the Rack – Join today and receive a $10 shopping credit. Invitation Code: LSSHOP10. Valid thru March 31, 2014
Spring Fashion Extra Cashback EventGet paid extra to shop at 18 participating stores during the Spring Fashion Extra Cashback Event! Hurry, this event ends 3/14! Click HERE for a store listing for US. Click HERE for Canada!
The “NEW FACE” of DNA Miracles Photo Contest!
There are only 5 days left to enter the New Face of DNA Miracles Photo Contest! Submit a photo of your little one WITH their favorite DNA Miracles product TODAY and you could win big! Click HERE for details and for your chance to win!
Our Partner Stores Team is always working on adding new stores, executing new promotions, and bringing you the best savings on the Internet. Leave a comment below and let us know if you have any suggestions!

Published By Benjamin Pang

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Top Valentine’s Day Gift Picks!


Valentine’s Day is officially one month away! Don’t let the day of love sneak up on you this year! Plan ahead and surprise your loved one with the ultimate display of your affection! If you’re not a mushy-hearts-and-chocolates kind of person, we’re here to help you out! Read on for this year’s top list of Valentine’s Day gifts for the guy or girl in your life!


Lavish your lady
Do you need some help picking out the perfect gift for that someone special in your life? Here are our top 3 gift picks for the ladies!
Jewelry
Bedazzle your lady on the day of lovers with a stunning piece of fine jewelry! She will love a new set of pearls, a pair of diamond earrings or a new watch or bracelet, you really cannot go wrong! Check out the SHOP.COM Daily Deals page for some amazing deals on stunning pieces! You can also check out some of our partner stores like: MyJewelryBox.com,Jared the Galleria of Jewelry or Kay Jewelers for a timeless jewelry selection!

Spa Package
What better way for your lady to think about how much she adores you than over a day of self-pampering! Send her to the spa for her Valentine’s Day gift and let her indulge herself with a facial, massage or mani-pedi! Check out some of the deals through Spa WeekSpa Finder or WaySpa.com to find just what you’re looking for!


Romantic DestinationTreat your lady to a romantic getaway just for the two of you! Create memories that will last much longer than the weekend when you escape to a tropical resort, mountainous cabin or lakeside cottage! Plan your trip today with Shop Travel or check out SHOP.COM Daily Deals to score some budget-friendly options!


Pamper your prince
Are you struggling with the perfect gift idea for your man this Valentine’s Day? Check out our top 3 gift picks for men!
Timepiece
You can’t go wrong with a classic watch for your man. They often make for the best presents, especially when they’re timeless. Choose a watch with a classic style and a modern touch. We love the classic round watch face with a clean design and chronograph dial. Some of this year’s top brands are:BulovaMichael Kors or Fossil.


Tickets to the game
This is a gift your guy is sure to love; you can’t go wrong with a pair of tickets to the next home game! A gift that you can do together like going to watch his favorite team in action, is a very special gift! You’ll get the credit for the gift and get to enjoy it with him :) ! Check out some of SHOP.COM’s partner stores like:Ticket SolutionsPurhase Tix, and TicketNetwork.com to score a great deal!

Bar Set
Another classic gift is a bar set. Give the guy in your life a nice bottle of their favorite liquor and a bar set that caters to his style. Choose from margarita, martini, mojito sets or a nice decanter for his favorite Bourbon! These gifts also can be personalized with his initials or monogram. For some other customizable gift ideas check out; PersonalizationMall.comPersonal Creations and Red Envelope.

Have you already started planning for Valentine’s Day?  Comment below and share with us some of your gift ideas!

Published By Benjamin Pang