YouTube has added a fourth thumbnail option... Customized thumbnails

The YouTube customized thumbnail is here!

We should all celebrate today! If you have uploaded a video to YouTube, you will feel the same excitement that I have today.  We do not have to settle for a thumbnail that includes our eyes and mouth open or a big dorky look on our face.  YEAH!

You now have the opportunity to design a creative and mind provoking thumbnail for all your videos.  Just imagine the curiosity you can create with a customized thumbnail.

You are able to upload your customized image at the same location that you are able to choose which frame (of three that YouTube gives you as options) you would like to use.

Remember that you should not design something that is too small to read or understand what the image is when looking at page full of video thumbnails.  The good thumbnail image size is 640 px X 170 px. 

Don't forget to design your thumbnails with the channel design in mind.  You do want to keep your business brand & consistent message in check.  Or... maybe be a little quirky.

A few examples are below:

Good Luck!  

Don't forget to post your YouTube channel link so that we can see your customized thumbnails and leave comments on your videos.

If you enjoyed this blog, you can read some more by clicking on the links below. 

Driving Likes through the roof

5 Things I Learned About Branding Listening To The Voice

Holiday Contests & Promotions on Social Media

Marketing plans for the holidays

Halloween weekend was a fun weekend for my daughter and I.  She competed in her first competitive cheer competition.  We checked in with her team mom and I headed to the stands to find the cheer group. As I passed parents, cheerleaders, and siblings I enjoyed looking at the homemade Halloween costumes they were wearing. There was a combination of scary and funny costumes in the bunch. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the event by acting out their characters.

This event not only made me think about this "first time event" in my daughter's life, but I began thinking about my clients' holiday marketing plans.  Two months of intense shopping and family gatherings are about to be upon us.

Surprising Halloween adventure

Parents want candy too!

My bags of candy were ready and my lights blaring down the street hoping that trick or treaters would find my house.

I enjoy staying at the house and passing out candy more than walking around the neighborhood with the kids.  Nov, don’t get me wrong I do love to watch the neighborhood kids interact and talk with parents I don’t see much.  The best seat for action is passing out candy and scaring the kids.

This year was extra fun and began with a belly laugh so loud I almost fell out of my chair.  I glanced over my Facebook newsfeed to find my friend (and previous client) Toni Rogers writing the most hilarious post.

My smile began to grow and didn’t stop till I went to sleep.

Many young kids knocked on my door and jumped back when I opened the door to appear holding a giant bowl of shiny packages.  Otherwise known as candy!

“Trick or Treat”, “Happy Halloween” were just a couple greetings from girls, boys, and some fun parents along the way.

The groups I wanted to join had 2-3 families walking together.  The moms had their attention on the kids and their candy, but the dads were sharing laughter and large cups filled with adult beverages.  I only know they were adult beverages, because I caught a whiff as the breeze blew by the doorway.

I was surprised that the oldest kids who came by were about 12 or 13 years, but they were dressed to the hilt and were all scary creatures.  Blood and guts were all over them.

What surprised me the most, during an evening filled with surprising creatures and people, was parents or adults trick or treating for candy.  Now, I am not talking about those who chaperone their kids or wear a costume to have some fun with their kids.  I actually had 2 different dads knock on my door, say “Trick or Treat”, and hold out their infant’s pumpkin for candy. I peered behind them and saw no other kids or adults in sight.

• My mind began flipping through all the reasons he may be trick or treating with a kid who can’t even eat the candy.
• The older sibling flaked out and went home with mom?
• My house was too scary and the other sibling(s) ran to the next house?
• Dad just wanted to “go through” the motions once to help next year go smoothly?
• Dad just wanted candy?

I could not help to think, “Dad just wanted candy.”

I gave him a big handful and said, “Have fun!”  “Thank you” said dad as he turned around and ran to the next house.

This year I did notice all the kids and adults had great manners.  They all said “Thank you” and waited patiently as I plopped big handfuls of candy into their perspective containers.  GREAT JOB PARENTS!

When the last trick or treater rang the bell I was sad, but my smile didn’t end.  It was a fun and surprising night at the Watts/Baccus house.

What was your most memorable Halloween experience?  Please post below in the comments section.

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How Valuable Is A Facebook "Like"?

What is the value of a Facebook Fan Liking my posts & how do I drive more Likes?

How many times a month do I hear this question?  An estimated 20 times per month.

Businesses are all looking for the magic potion that will push their fan numbers through the roof.  They see the NFL, Starbucks, Einstein Bagels and other large brand pages and feel the need for their small local business to have large numbers too.

So, what is the value of a Facebook Fan today?

Why should a business be concerned with the number of Likes their posts receive?

The value of a fan could be priceless, but could be worth $0.  Your business needs to make the decision based on the marketing strategy they are trying to achieve on social media.

If a fan will tell the business they like their posts ( by hitting the like button ), they are helping the business know what information they enjoy receiving. 

When a fan/customer will share a post, tag the business in a positive testimony on their wall, or share a personal story with their friends about a product or service they enjoyed the business wins every time!  Knowing this, a business really wants to encourage this type of behavior more often than just liking their posts.

The magic question of how to drive more likes is answered easily.  Create content that your fans enjoy!  The majority of Facebook users enjoy fun videos, photos, quotes, and quirky information.  Finding the sweet spot takes time listening and watching fans interact or not.

Should you concentrate on the Likes your page receives?  Only to help you know if the content you are posting is relevant to your fan base and good enough for them to share with their friends.

Challenge to you today: Plan a 30 day practice run with a variety of posts and information.  Analyze the 30 days and find out what your fans view as shareable content.

Good Luck!

If you enjoyed the blog post, feel free to leave a great comment or question below.  We enjoy educating the world about social marketing.

Facebook Advertising

Would a promoted post or sponsored story offer some advantages to my business?

Do you remember when Facebook began flooding the communities with advertising and information about the network?  Some say that this was such an important event we should keep the details in our memory for years to come.

Did you believe that a business would continue to offer free membership and marketing forever?

When Facebook changed to the “timeline” design, the newsfeed began to change.  Your newsfeed does not include all the posts you have “opted in” to receive.  If you have stopped engaging with businesses and/or people you will eventually miss out on their posts.  Facebook has made the decision to create a newsfeed that they think you want to see based on your activity within your friends and likes on your profile.

Have you ever wondered why you don’t see friend’s posts anymore?  Did you think they were boycotting Facebook and not participating?

The statistics have been given that only 16% of likes and friends see actual posts sent. 

That is lower than the national average open rate for e-newsletters. 

Would you like to know that all the information you opt-in to receive you really do receive in your newsfeed without having to search again and again?  YES…

Facebook decided to launch the Promoted Post and Sponsored Story to help businesses reach their fans and friends of fans.  To increase the probability of fans reading your posts you need to participate in Facebook advertising.  Basically spend some cash with Facebook. 

To be successful you need to keep a few things in mind. 

• ·      Create an engaging post and include either a photo or video
• ·      Use the promoted posts and sponsored stories for contests or awesome promotions
• ·      Only use these tools if you already have a large fan base
• ·      The success can only be measured if you plan, execute, and engage properly
• ·      Decide what your ROI will be – likes, purchases, website hits, video views, e-mail submissions, registrations

I do have to disclose one important prerequisite to using these types of Facebook advertising.  You must have 400 fans before you can use the promoted posts.

The promoted post can be selected within your Timeline.  Once you post your update, you can hit the “promote” button and choose the reach numbers you wish to achieve. 

Don’t promote a post that is not “viral potential” unless you want to be unsuccessful.  Take the time necessary to plan your image, post text, click through destination, and target niche.  Just slapping something up and promoting it will not bring you success.

Sponsored stories are used to encourage your fans’ friends to like your page because your fans engagement activity is presented in the ad.  Takes the “I do what my friends do” type of thinking and puts it into an ad. 

Hmmmm, imagine that!     

Suggesting the use of promoted posts and sponsored stories to a new business page, in my opinion is “nuts”.  You need to have a great foundation of fans in order for your ads to be successful. 

New business pages should utilize the regular Facebook ads to increase their fan base before they tackle the promoted posts and sponsored stories. 

My challenge to you is to try one of the Facebook ad options for your business.  Decide what your ROI will be and create a great ad with an image & good content.  Success will come only with good planning and follow through!

Good Luck!

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