Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Monday, 19 December 2016
Friday, 16 December 2016
4 Ways Content Marketing Can Boost Your Affiliate Referrals
1. Product reviews
Product reviews are a powerful way to show your audience how you feel about a particular product or service – and they can have a huge impact on the purchasing decisions they make. In fact, 89 percent of consumers trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations. [bctt tweet="89 percent of consumers trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations."] To ensure your product reviews help persuade your followers to try the product you’re recommending, there are a couple of best practices to keep in mind. First, be sure to include a completely honest review that focuses on both the pros and cons. This way, your readers will have more realistic expectations of the product. If you were to share a one-sided product review, it could do more harm than good – your referrals might expect a perfect product, and if those expectations aren't matched, it could create a bad experience and damage your credibility. Check out this example below from the product review site, Top Ten Reviews:
In this review, they manage to provide an honest recommendation by balancing the pros and cons of this anti-virus software. By calling out the advantages of the product and including a “cons” section, they’re able to attract the right consumers to the product and be upfront about why it’s not the best purchase for others. Another tip to keep in mind as you create your content? Include images and examples of how the product can be used. The writers over at CNET do a great job of this in their Dark Sky weather app review below: 
By including several images of the apps interface, it helps set accurate expectations for potential customers. They’ll know exactly what they’re buying, and how they can expect to use it. As you craft your own reviews, consider what types of visuals you can use to accompany and support your content. And don’t forget to include your affiliate link by hyperlinking any relevant keywords or images or the products name!
2. Video
When most people think about content, they often go straight to blog posts, whitepapers and ebooks. However, video is a huge opportunity for content creators; according to Hubspot, 64 percent of users are more likely to buy a product online after watching a video. Not to mention, YouTube is the second most popular search engine after Google. While you may be intimidated by the idea of filming your own videos, creating video content doesn’t have to be a hassle. Keep in mind that your first videos don't need to be perfect, and that you'll get better the more you try. As you embark on creating video content for your affiliate marketing efforts, here are a couple of approaches you can take: a comparison video and a how-to video. Comparison videos Simply sharing your thoughts on a particular product or service is a good place to start with video, as this allows you to endorse a particular brand. [bctt tweet="Sharing your thoughts on a particular product or service is a good place to start with video, as this allows you to endorse a particular brand."] AWeber’s own customer and affiliate, Amy Schmittauer, does just that in her email comparison video review:
While Amy’s genuine endorsement speaks to pros and cons of both services, she ultimately recommends AWeber based on the fact that we provide all features for trial users. Interested in learning more about creating engaging video content? Learn more. How-to videos Creating step-by-step instructions on how to use a product or service is another effective way to provide valuable resources for current and prospective customers. By demoing the product and providing viewers with a virtual hands-on experience, you’re able to give them a behind-the-scenes look at how they can benefit from it. John Corcoran, another one of AWeber’s affiliates, does a great job of using video as a platform to teach his audience how to set up a sign up form in AWeber: 
This tactic is not only effective because it shows the value of the tool and helps spread the word about AWeber, it also helps current customers become more successful.
3. Blog articles
Writing a blog post that talks about your experience with a product or service can be a powerful way to share your endorsement towards a particular brand to your readers. And many affiliates do just that as a way to educate others and encourage referrals. Not sure what to write about? Try writing a “how-to” blog post on a topic you’re passionate about or an expert on. If creating video content is too daunting, writing a simple article can be an easy first step to creating engaging content for your affiliate marketing efforts. [bctt tweet="Writing a simple article can be an easy first step to creating engaging content for your affiliate marketing efforts."] In this blog post example below, Syed Balkhi of wpbeginner does an excellent job teaching his audience about what it takes to start a podcast:
In addition to sharing best practices for podcasting, he includes his favorite products to help make it happen. Wherever he does, he makes sure to include his affiliate link along with the product or brand name. This way, he’ll get referral credit whenever someone clicks a link. As you think of ways you can craft content for your readers (and promote referrals), consider how you can get testimonials from others to support your recommendations. In this post from Blog Tyrant on how to start a food blog, the author provides valuable instructions and quotes from someone who had gone through the experience as well: 
And the author made sure to include affiliate links to products he recommends.
4. Social Media
Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are powerful tools for marketers, businesses and influencers – and especially affiliate marketers who are looking to drive new referrals. As you create new content (like the kind mentioned throughout this article), your social networks will be great places to distribute it to your followers and other audiences. Here’s a social post from the blog 99Signals, who shared a blog post that highlights tools and resources for growing a blog audience:
Within the blog post, they share their affiliate link for a few of the products they recommend checking out. As you craft your social posts, also consider how you can leverage industry-specific and popular hashtags. By adding them to the ends of your tweets and posts, you can expand your reach for those exploring content on the hashtag. In this tweet from the popular daily deal site, Brad’s Deals, it features hashtags to get their blog post in front of a larger audience: 
As you explore hashtags to add to your posts, make sure they are relevant to the content you share. Otherwise, it can come across as spammy.
Create engaging content today
While there are many ways to create content to help educate your audience and drive referrals, I encourage you to choose one tactic to try. As you learn what works and what doesn’t, you can make improvements to tailor content for your specific audience – and hopefully earn more commission. Interested in learning more about affiliate marketing best practices? Check out my last post, The Do’s and Don’ts of Affiliate Marketing.The post 4 Ways Content Marketing Can Boost Your Affiliate Referrals appeared first on Email Marketing Tips.
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#SproutChat Recap: Running a Successful Boutique Agency
Agency work isn’t easy. Strategizing, managing and executing a brand’s social and digital marketing initiatives requires a deep understanding of your client’s industry and audience.
This week at #SproutChat, we were joined by Sprout All Star, Brooke B. Sellas. In addition to starting her own boutique agency, B Squared Media, Brooke is a marketing and social media consultant and an adjunct for consumer behavior at The City University of New York (CUNY). During our chat we discussed how to grow, scale and achieve your entrepreneurial goals.
When Is It Time to Be Your Own Boss?
Deciding when to make the jump from working for someone else to being your own boss is the first step in starting your own social media agency. It’s also one of the scariest steps of your new business venture. There may never be a “perfect” time to make the leap but if you’re passion and driven it’s important that you try. Before taking the plunge, meet with other entrepreneurs, budget accordingly and really understand what you’re about to get yourself into.
A1: I “made the leap” due to a combination of my gut feelings and pressure/support from my parents & then BF. #SproutChat
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
A1: I'd argue it's different for everyone, but i would have to say it's when you've outgrown your current environment. #sproutchat
— Nicole Glueckert (@nmglueckert) December 14, 2016
A1: When you have lots of potential clients, a great reputation and a lot of money in the bank. #sproutchat
— Brad Lovett (@Brad_Lovett) December 14, 2016
A1 when you see clients everywhere you look 🙂 #sproutchat
— David Pepper (@thedavepepper) December 14, 2016
A1: when the status quo seems unbearable & you can't stop thinking "this would be so much better if it was done differently". #sproutchat
— Clara Buchanan (@clara_buchanan) December 14, 2016
A1: It may never feel like the "right" time. Sometimes you just need to have faith in yourself nad your experience #SproutChat
— Joe Martin (@joeDmarti) December 14, 2016
Finding & Securing Clients
So you’ve decided to quit your day job. Now what? If you want your agency to be successful, you need to find and secure clients. Start by doing your research, listening to the experts, networking and playing to your strengths.
A2: We do well with clients if they’re willing to: learn, pay on time, be a partner, abide by the “No A**hole Rule.” #SproutChat
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
A2b: A common ground never hurts. Even if it's a connection in common. Your network should WORK for you (and you for it). #SproutChat
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
A2c: p.s. That’s actually a GREAT book for any #entrepreneur to read: https://t.co/tRvpw2k3se 📖💯📚 #SproutChat
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
@SproutSocial A2: Start with what you know! Do what you feel confident it, from there branch out! #SproutChat
— Sid says (@Sidneytoldme) December 14, 2016
A2 Research, Research, research … check out there social channels & platforms to get a better understanding of who they are #sproutchat
— Apple Box Studios (@AppleBoxStudios) December 14, 2016
A2 start with knowing your strengths & where those can help people do the most good/work. Don't pretend to be an expert over all #SproutChat
— LUCYrk (@LUCYrk78) December 14, 2016
Know When You Need Help
As your agency begins to grow, you’re going to need to enlist the help of others. During our chat, Brooke said it best when she said that learning to hire people that are smarter that you is a win for your business. But once your ready to hire someone, how do you find them? Asking for recommendations and reaching out to your professional networks is a good place to start.
Learning to be with/talk to/hire the "smarter than you" peeps is such a WIN for me and @HelloBSquared! #SproutChat https://t.co/VFbu5DrP2a
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
A3 Ask for recommendations for vendors people you trust, trust #sproutchat
— Toby Metcalf (@Toby_Metcalf) December 14, 2016
A3: Reach out to your network. The community around you can point your in the right direction when you need resources #SproutChat
— Kathleen Burns (@katbu) December 14, 2016
A3 All about that networking! Then you can start to build a list of people you can quickly call on in a pinch #sproutchat
— Apple Box Studios (@AppleBoxStudios) December 14, 2016
A3: Use your network! #sproutchat
— Lauren Scarpa (@LScarpa22) December 14, 2016
A3: The #SMM community is BIG. Join an online group & collab! (I can't design, but I know designers who need social!) 😉 #sproutchat
— Nicole Glueckert (@nmglueckert) December 14, 2016
A3. Identify potential service providers and analyze them based on budget, quality of service and word of mouth (reviews). #SproutChat
— Ayesha Ambreen (@AyeshaAmbreen) December 14, 2016
A3: 1st, admit you're not the best @ everything. 2nd, build a network of trusted, willing experts. 3rd, be clear, trust, verify #SproutChat https://t.co/MKAQ2iXkJk
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 14, 2016
Recognize Your Agency’s Value
Setting boundaries and understanding your agency’s value is critical to driving a profit. Make sure that you’re logging your work and clearly communicating expectations and pricing with each of your clients.
A4: We set rates by closely monitoring and rating tasks. How many hours to complete X? Is it a low/med/high cost to us? #SproutChat
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
A4b: We take those task #s and back into the # of hours/services a client needs. Don’t EVER get stuck with NO margin! #SproutChat
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
A4 there will always be someone who will work cheaper. value yourself and others will too #sproutchat
— David Pepper (@thedavepepper) December 14, 2016
A4 understand the value of client #conversions, your experience, time commitment and go from there. #Sproutchat
— Michelle (@michelletweet) December 14, 2016
Invest in the Right Tools
Keep your team of one or 100 on track by investing in the right tools. That’s why we asked our community what software programs they rely on to complete their daily tasks and meet the needs of their clients.
A5b: Obvi, we LOVE @sproutsocial for social tracking (Smart Inbox, Tagging, Competitor Reports) and as a light social CRM. #SproutChat
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
A5: We use @toggl for time tracking. Soon to test @hubstaff (great for remote teams). Billing is @QuickBooks all the way! #SproutChat
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
Excel is a HUGE tool in our tool belt! #SproutChat https://t.co/dCnYvbNIt5
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
A5 we use Basecamp for time tracking and filemaker for estimates and billing and whatnot #sproutchat
— Apple Box Studios (@AppleBoxStudios) December 14, 2016
A5: Using @freshbooks & @trello #SproutChat
— Kendra Bullen (@kendrabullen) December 14, 2016
Remember Why You Started Your Agency
Being your own boss is a dream but the reality isn’t always as glamorous. Take time to reflect on what you’ve built and always remember why you started your boutique agency in the first place. From collaboration and relationship building to a diverse and evolving professional skill set–agency work is worth the hustle.
A6: Agency work can go 2 ways. When YOU are an agency you have more team members who can have special skills (ex: PPC or SEO). #SproutChat
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
A6b: One thing I never thought of, but makes up 15% of our biz, are agencies that outsource projects to our team. #SproutChat
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
A6c: It's been a BIG part of our growth strategy/great source for recurring projects. Especially bc our sales team = JUST ME! #SproutChat
— Brooke B. Sellas (@madSMscientist) December 14, 2016
A6 latest and greatest tools. Early adopters. Fellow #social advocates #sproutchat
— Michelle (@michelletweet) December 14, 2016
A6: Personally, I love the variety and the relationship building. Plus, you can fire your 'boss' without losing everything. #SproutChat
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 14, 2016
A6: Collaboration is a HUGE part of our culture. We utilize all our resources to produce the best for our clients! #SproutChat
— BrandExtract° (@BrandExtract) December 14, 2016
We’ll be back for our last #SproutChat of 2016 on Wednesday, December 21 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. CST. Get ready to for trivia on Sprout Social and social media trends. In the meantime, stay connected with other industry experts by joining our Facebook community.
This post #SproutChat Recap: Running a Successful Boutique Agency originally appeared on Sprout Social.
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Thursday, 15 December 2016
10 Book Recommendations From Team Sprout
Here at Sprout Social, reading really is fundamental. Good books teach us about our craft, inspire us to be better leaders and even allow us to fall into escapist fantasies during our cold winter commutes.
As 2016 draws to a close we asked members of Team Sprout to share the best things they’ve read this year. Here are some of their top picks in engineering as well as a few fiction and nonfiction options to mix things up. If you’re looking for a good travel read this holiday season, these are all fantastic choices.
Our Engineering Picks
1. “The C Programming Language” by Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie
“The C Programming Language” is one of the few programming books that not only offers valuable and practical information but is enjoyable to read. While it focuses on the C language, it outlines useful concepts and design patterns for any programmer looking to build well-architected, efficient programs. This book does assume some familiarity with basic programming concepts but even novice programmers should be able to pick up and follow along.
About the Authors: Brian Kernighan is a computer science Professor at Princeton University. He has contributed to the development of Unix and coauthored the AWK and AMPL programming languages. Dennis M. Ritchie was the computer scientist responsible for creating the C programming language and was also a key contributor to Unix. Guess you could say he wrote the book on C.
Recommended by Colin, Senior Software Engineer
2. “Eloquent Javascript” (2nd Edition) by Marijn Haverbeke
Javascript is the backbone of modern web development and it’s increasingly important to do it well. “Eloquent Javascript” is a thin volume that distills Javascript’s beauty and efficiency and serves as a great introduction to the language that can really make core programming concepts click. “Eloquent Javascript” provides a grok-able and inspiring entry point for new developers.
About the Author: Marijn Haverbeke is a software developer and blogger based out of Berlin.
Recommended by Chris, Senior Software Engineer
3. “The Idea Factory” by Jon Gertner
“The Idea Factory” isn’t, strictly speaking, a programming book, but it’s a fascinating read about the history of innovation through the 20th century. “The Idea Factory” explores how engineering and technical innovation revolutionized communication and ushered in the Information Age. Countless aspects of modern life have been invisibly influenced by the innovations at Bell Labs, and this fascinating history sheds some light on how much the world has changed as a result.
About the Author: Jon Gertner is an editor and technology writer at Fast Company magazine. Previously, he worked as a science, business, and economics writer at New York Times Magazine. “The Idea Factory” is his first book.
Recommended by Dan, Software Engineer
4. “Extreme Programming Explained” by Kent Beck
“Extreme Programming Explained” is a thorough but quick introduction to the XP management philosophy and walkthrough of how to involve the whole team to get buy in on said philosophy. Testing, agile business practices and TDD are buzzwords that get thrown around a lot in development circles, but “EPE” breathes new life into those concepts and reminds us why we need to be intentional about our processes and team dynamics. The examples are direct, simple, and easy to apply to day-to-day work. Even if you don’t subscribe to all of the tenets of XP, reading “EPE” is a worthwhile exercise in checking your processes as a team.
About the Author: Kent Beck is a software engineer, the creator of the extreme programming methodology, and one of the original signatories of the Agile Manifesto.
Recommended by Shane, Software Engineer
5. “Professor Frisby’s Mostly Adequate Guide to Functional Programming” by Brian Lonsdorf
Earlier this year Sprout’s Javascript Guild read and discussed this book as a group. It helped the team start understanding and implementing functional programming concepts in their day-to-day work. It’s an engaging and practical read that’s immediately applicable for Javascript development that is also a great first pick for a team book club or professional development side session.
About the Author: Brian Lonsdorf writes about Javascript and functional programming online. You can find his book on gitbooks and other writings on his profile at Medium.
Recommended by the Sprout Social Javascript Guild
Our Fiction Picks
1. “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel
“Station Eleven” is the most inspiring and heartbreaking story about the aftermath of the apocalypse you’ll read this year. It won the Arthur C. Clark Award for Best Novel in 2015 and was the champion of the 2015 Tournament of Books.
After a mysterious plague brings society to its knees, people find a way to soldier on. A group of traveling actors and musicians called the Traveling Symphony tours the scattered enclaves of North America, bringing entertainment and news of other settlements to these isolated communities. This book reminds us that we create art and meaning, even after the apocalypse, “because survival is insufficient.”
Recommended by Chris, Senior Software Engineer, and Jess, Software Engineer
2. “The Hollows” series by Kim Harrison
“The Hollows” follows Rachel Morgan, a heroine with an absurd knack for finding herself in trouble. It’s an Urban Fantasy series with tons of detective work, romantic entanglements, character development and soul-searching. And vampires. Because who doesn’t love a good vampire series?
Recommended by Matt, Software Engineer on Bambu by Sprout Social
3. “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
“Americanah” is a stunning piece of contemporary literary fiction. It spans three continents as it examines the most complex themes of life in today’s globalized world, from love and relationships to race and identity. And it’s not just us who were moved by this powerful exploration of life and love: Americanah won the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction. It was also nominated or shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Fiction and the Goodreads Choice Award.
Recommended by Alicia, Brand Marketing Specialist, and Shane, Software Engineer
Our Nonfiction Picks
1. “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win” by Jocko Willink
A copy of “Extreme Ownership” has been steadily making its way around the engineering and product teams here at Sprout. Contrary to what the title might imply, this is not a book about the military—it’s a leadership handbook grounded in the lived experiences of Navy SEALs. “Extreme Ownership” has a lot of inspiration to offer about mission, team collaboration, and communication. Willink takes these lessons from the military and makes them applicable in everyday professional and personal settings.
Recommended by Anjali, Product Manager
2. “The Signal and the Noise” by Nate Silver
Nate Silver has been a strong voice in predictions and betting markets for political races and sports for nearly a decade. “The Signal and the Noise” pulls back the veil and lets us see into the process that Silver uses to distinguish truths in a sea of noise. These insights are fascinating and essential reading for anyone interested in the processes involved in Data Science.
Recommended by Greg, Data Science Lead
Bonus Recommendations: Podcasts
1. ‘99% Invisible’ from Radiotopia
‘99% Invisible’ is a show about the unseen thoughts, decisions and labor that shape the way we live our lives. Each episode takes a deep dive into a topic that invisibly influences the world. They’ve done collaborations with other audio productions like Planet Money and DecodeDC, and are one of the most popular podcasts available on iTunes.
Recommended by Alicia, Brand Marketing Specialist, and Shane, Software Engineer
2. ‘Reply All’ from Gimlet Media
It’s a show that’s all about…the internet! PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman take deep dives into everything from memes and internet arcana, to why Google Adwords support techs hate dealing with locksmiths. If you spend time online and don’t quite understand why the Internet is so weird, ‘Reply All’ will help you figure it out.
Recommended by Laura, Lead Visual Designer, and Jess and Shane, Software Engineers
This post 10 Book Recommendations From Team Sprout originally appeared on Sprout Social.
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