Top 5 Inbound Marketing Articles to Start the Week: Emerging Social Platforms

Are you eager to try the latest marketing trends ? Even if you're skeptical about becoming an early adopter, it's important to be aware of the new marketing opportunities available for your business.

In this week's top inbound marketing article, Mashable discusses 10 emerging social platforms and what businesses can do to start experimenting with them.

1. 10 Emerging Social Platforms and How Businesses Can Use Them

Author: Erica Swallow on Mashable

Innovative brands are quick to start using new social media platforms, but that doesn't mean other businesses can't test them out as well.

This Mashable article serves as a guide to how emerging social media platforms can benefit businesses. Covering location -based services, Q&A platforms, platforms for press, and microblogging services, this guide will help you get a handle on how to start using them successfully.

Marketing Takeaway: Keep up with the latest marketing trends to maintain a competitive edge. If one seems applicable to your business, experiment!

2. 5 Facebook Fan-Acquisition Strategies

Author: Brian Carter on Search Engine Journal

Want more fans of your business' Facebook Fan Page? Carter dives into five of his best fan acquisition strategies to grow your Facebook reach and ultimately generate more revenue:

1. Turn buyers into fans at time of purchase.
2. Implement incentivized like, or "reveal tabs."
3. Use Facebook ads (social PPC).
4. Initiate incentivized word-of-mouth contests.
5. Drive traffic to your Fan Page via email.

Marketing Takeaway: Don't operate under the Field of Dreams "if you build it, they will come" philosphy. Attracting fans on Facebook takes work.

3. 10 Things Bloggers Should NOT Do

Author: Onibalusi Bamidele on DailyBlogTips

If you subscribe to a bunch of internet marketing blogs, chances are you're inundated with advice on what you should be doing to successfully navigate social media, rank high in search engines, build a great blog , etc. In this DailyBlogTips article, however, bloggers are warned what not to do.

Bamidele's list of blogging no-no's include that bloggers must not expect results overnight, ignore their readers, scrape another blogger's content, expect success without promoting, be another blogger, fail to regularly update their blog, ignore SEO, ignore networking, have an unreadable/unnavigable site, and throw mud around.

Marketing Takeaway: Be sure to follow correct blogger etiquette.

4. Smart B2B Companies Now Think Like Media Companies

Author: Maria Pergolino on MarketingProfs Daily Fix Blog

Maria certainly hits the nail on the head with this article. In order to be successful today, B2B companies must think like publishers , not advertisers.

Rather than the traditional practice of selling, which involves interrupting people, businesses must think about connecting with their audience and building permission. To do this, says Pergolino, a company must do some planning by building a solid content strategy into its overall B2B marketing plan and deciding on a direction for content, start creating powerful and engaging content for its audience, and promote that content via SEO and social media strategies.

Marketing Takeaway: B2B companies: Think like a media company.

5. Online Marketing Tips From the Farmer’s Market

Author: Adam Helweh on Social Media Explorer

In a clever Social Media Explorer post, Adam highlights some interesting parallels between his local famer's market and the competitive world of online marketing .

Some of his best lessons from the market include showing your wares and giving them a taste, displaying your credentials, engaging with your customers and being remembered, and staying dedicated to being social.

Marketing Takeaway: In the saturated world of online marketing, it's important to stand out from your competitors.

Image Credit: Mashable

Video: How to Use Social Media to Manage Your Company Brand Online

Learn how to use social media to manage your company brand. Download the free video and learn how to manage your company brand effectively using social media.