Best Social Networking Practices for 2017

This is a resource page for those who wish to improve their social network.

Hardware

I use an iPhone 7 Plus to shoot video and iMovie to edit it.  Android and PC’s also have options for doing the same.

DJI Osmo Stabilizer This is the best thing I’ve ever purchased when it comes to getting smooth shots from my iPhone 7 plus.  It’s $299 and available online or at Best Buy.

When recording at my desk I use a Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 camera $67, plugged into my computer monitor.  I use it for both audio and video and find the audio quality to be better than even some of the most expensive microphones.

If you want to do the talking head thing over a video or dynamic screen behind you (like the weather man) I chose this Green Screen LimoStudio 9 x 15 ft. Green Chromakey Muslin Backdrop Background Screen for Photo Video Studio, 3 x Backdrop Clamp  for $30 and this rack to hang it on LimoStudio Photo Video Studio 10Ft Adjustable Muslin Background Backdrop Support System Stand for $34.

Software

I use iMovie for my simple edits.  My film crew uses Apple’s Final Cut Pro.

Wirecast (Mac or PC) is what I use to share my desktop screen LIVE to Facebook.  It starts at $495 and they offer a free trial to see if you like it.

Software for making cool images to post on your website and social sites:

Canva makes design simple for everyone. Create designs for Web or print: blog graphics, presentations, Facebook covers, flyers, posters, invitations and more.

Create eye-catching animated posts with the Ripl mobile app that help you and your business stand out on social media.

Spark Turn ideas into impactful social graphics, web stories & videos with no experience needed.

VideoBlocks is a members-only site offering a one-stop shop for stock video.

Epidemic Sound‘s Royalty Free music library provides cutting edge production music for your films, TV and YouTube content.

Software to schedule your posts across platforms:

Buffer makes it super easy to share any page you’re reading. Keep your Buffer topped up and we automagically share them for you through the day.

Meet Edgar Get the most out of social media with Edgar. Schedule and publish the posts you want, when you want, automatically. Save time and increase your traffic.

Schedugram helps you schedule your content to Instagram.

Viral Woot is the best Pinterest promotion, scheduler, management and analytics tool used and loved by 65000 individuals and businesses.

Staffing

Because Big Cat Rescue is a social cause, we attract hundreds of volunteers who are happy to help with our social networking.  You may have mavens in your circle that would love to help you through designing posts, posting them and responding to comments.  From 1996 – 2007 all of our online presence was handled by volunteers, with the exception of one videographer, who would create and post videos to YouTube.  One volunteer became so adept at engaging our viewers that we hired her in 2007 to work remotely from MO.  In 2010 we hired a Virtual Assistant from the Philippines who is still with us.  You can source expert web help here:  http://www.virtualstafffinder.com/

It’s a cyclical process.  Our great web presence allows us to attract more volunteers who enable us to have a better web presence.

Process Priority

As of the Spring of 2017 here is what I experience:

Facebook LIVE videos will get 10 times more views than my static posts and 10 more views than posting the exact same videos to YouTube.com

Instagram and Twitter are the next most viable networks for us to reach the most people.

So, every day I do at least one and sometimes 4 or 5 Facebook LIVE broadcasts.  These run from 15 minutes to an hour in most cases.

I download them at the end of the day and then upload them to our YouTube.com/DailyBigCat account and to Vimeo, so people w/ Roku can watch on their T.V.s

Twice a week our videographer produces 2 videos, that are polished, with sub titles, music, transitions and great content.  These are under 5 minutes each.  Usually only 2-3 minutes long.  We post them to YouTube.com/BigCatRescue and to Facebook and Vimeo.  They will get 10X the views on Facebook than they will get on YouTube.

Our remote worker posts photos, and short mini video clips, of 60 seconds or less, EVERY FOUR HOURS, to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIN and Pinterest via an app called Buffer App and Meet Edgar .  You create your posts and then can post immediately, or schedule them, to go out to all of those social sites.

We have half a dozen staff and volunteers who can access our social sites to respond to comments.  This is the most important part of social networking.  Blasting at people won’t work.  You have to engage with them, answer questions and create a relationship before they will do anything for you.

Every day we post an Update to BigCatRescue.org with the happenings of the day, so this includes photos, these videos, embedded Facebook LIVES, products for sale, requests for donations and a comment section that is Facebook based, so anyone who has a FB account can comment on our updates pages.  We name the pages /March-24-2017, /March-25-2017 … It’s important to always make your own website your priority as any of these social sites, and all your posts, could disappear one day.

Processes

How To Make Your First WordPress Website

How to use Wirecast to do Facebook LIVE

How to Upload a Video to YouTube

How To Upload A Video To Facebook

Don’t just paste your YouTube video link to Facebook.  Facebook hates YouTube and isn’t going to show those much.

I’m learning to take advantage of Amazon selling channels, so watch for future updates if you have products to sell.

Stay Out Front!

The only way to stay on top is to stay out front.  These are the podcasts I listen to while biking or driving to and from work or any time that I’m doing mundane tasks that don’t require my full attention.  You will find that one podcast will lead to another, so always be watching for a guest who seems to be successful and check out their podcast.  I NEVER BUY THE COURSES!  Most of these podcasts are designed to attract buyers for their paid products, courses, webinars, etc., but since the beginning of podcasting I’ve only accessed the content the gurus give away and it’s all you need.  Just go to iTunes or Google Play and search these titles in podcasts to subscribe:

SEO and Marketing Podcasts on iTunes:

eWeb Results

Facebook Sales Strategy

High Income Business Writing

Internet Business Mastery

Internet Marketing Podcast

Keyword: The Amazon Seller Podcast

Online Marketing Made Easy w/ Amy Porterfield

SEO 101

Shopify Masters

Smart Passive Income

Social Media Marketing

The Amazing Seller

The Art of Paid Traffic

WordPress (if you are going to build you website in WordPress)

WP Plugins A to Z

WordPress Weekly

Looking Ahead of the Curve

Mac OS Ken

Mac Most Now

Singularity One on One

TED Talks

The Mac Cast