advertising

Resources: Top 10 Twitter Tools For Ad Agencies

Peter · March 28, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Top 10 Twitter Tools And Tips For Ad Agencies (OK, Everyone)

I know from working with a wide range of advertising and digital agencies that Twitter can work very hard for B2B ad agency new business marketing.

However, trying to run a 24/7 Twitter program that uses best practices to achieve an agency’s goals can be daunting. Marketing communications companies that do not have dedicated staff to run a demanding social media program can get a bit overwhelmed. Good news, there are tools that can make using Twitter as an inbound and outbound platform much easier.

In addition to watching how the smartest agencies use Twitter, I base the following list on my own success in having well over 2,000 direct links per year from Twitter to my very narrowly defined website. In addition (thinking like a networker) I have had many valuable inter-Twitter direct communications in the past 12 months.

I divide this list into Twitter tools that make creating and posting Tweets much easier and tools that help me use Twitter as a marketing platform — including using Twitter as competitive and direct marketing platform.

Twitter Advertising

While we are all worshiping the Gods of inbound, actually using Twitter as an outbound advertising platform is worth the effort and cost. I know for a fact that, Twitter ads work. Go forth and test them.

Social Media Examiner. A primer on some of your advertising / Follower builder options.

Twitter Advertising. See if Twitter ‘s advertising website whets your outbound appetite.

Twitter Production And Scheduling Tools

Bit.ly. With a 140 character limit, you have to shorten any URL’s posted to Twitter. Bit.ly does a bit more cool stuff. But shortening alone means you need to have this built into your browser.

Buffer. Buffer is my number one easy to use scheduling system, it is connected to my WordPress blog to automatically send my blog post URL’s and a snippt to Twitter (and LikedIn and Facebook). Importantly because I need to save time, it also allows me to schedule a set of Tweets into the future.

Canva. According to the Gods of social media, having a graphic will increase your clicks and retweets by something like over 1 million. or, some crazy number like that. Canva is a very easy to use web-based graphics tool that edits images and can even be used by your CEO.

Hootsuite. Hootsuite is a social media dashboard that allows you to work on and monitor Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, WordPress from one place. It goes deeper so head over if you are looking for a ‘total’ solution.

HubSpot. HubSpot is a very big boy. Its inbound software will help your agency attract visitors, convert leads, and close customers. And, you can use it to woo new clients with your supreme inbound marketing expertise. As in, using HubSpot will make your agency a social media expert that actually has tools it can resell.

Klear. Klear (formerly Twtrland) delivers social monitoring, influencer marketing and competitive intelligence. Try it out for free. The full plate is a bit expensive. But, it works as a smart business development tool. You gotta spend money to make money.

Social Quant. Social Quant says, “Social Quant increases the size and quality of your Twitter account rapidly.” OK, how can you beat that? Try the 14-day trial and then splurge and pay them $50 bucks per month.

Twitonomy. Use Twitter as a competitive wrench. As Twitonomy says, “Get detailed and visual analytics on anyone’s tweets, retweets, replies, mentions, hashtags… Browse, search, filter and get insights on the people you follow and those who follow you.” Damn, go forth and use your competitor’s data ~~against them~~, um, for you!

Last Sweet Tweet…

Use “@” if you want to get someone’s attention. As in @peterlevitan.

More & More Online Resources

Just one more element of my Big Advertising Agency Resource List. Let me know if I am missing anything.

More and more resources are coming every weeek. Stay tuned.

Is The Stock Market Freaking Out Your Advertising Agency?

Peter · February 10, 2016 · Leave a Comment

As In… Are We Heading Towards Another Recession??

I’ve been doing this advertising agency thing for a long time. Started in the 1980’s and have gone through 5 recessions. Each time, clients got nervous. Many pulled their advertising back but some (the ones we loved) actually added to their budgets to gain market share when their competitors pulled back.

Here is a chart of the recessions. Of course, the most recent recession was a major killer coming just as digital media hit. Traditional agencies really got smacked down.

Our 2016 401K Freakout

How John Oliver Became One Of The Few Fantasy Sports Winners

Peter · November 16, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Fantasy Sports and John Oliver’s Daily Fantasy Sports Commercial: Yes You Can Be A Winner

You know fantasy sports is gambling and that’s why it’s actually illegal, for really stupid bored people who like to lose (and gamble), is addictive and has gotten virtually every major media and sports company to invest. I’d say ,”go figure” but, ya know, it’s just capitalism, baby.

Oh, it also makes a bit of cash – but not, apparently for 90+% of the players. But, you knew that.

That said. watch this John Oliver TV commercial and LAUGH.

Two Inventions To Get You Sparked

Peter · August 26, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Inventions? Sparked? You?

I am enamored with the concept of invention: meeting needs in new ways and in turning accepted ideas and ways of turning the same old on its side.

Right now I am staring at a big fat binder from Saatchi & Saatchi research and planning that I used in most of our new business pitches in the late nineties (and still use for reference.) These planning tools included our Masterbrand Temple, the Brand Detonator, SURT, Integrator and Old Brand Development. While they were all super smart stuff that helped us develop marketing strategies that lead to brand building and award-winning advertising, these tools also played the all-important role of dazzling prospective clients. Of course, Saatchi wasn’t alone in developing proprietary research tools. But, we really knew how to leverage the power of inventing new ways of doing business. Which brings me to the point.

Go Forth And Invent… Here’s Some Help.

An Advertising, PR, Marketing, SEO, Design & Sales Listicle

Peter · July 9, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Advertising, Marketing, Design Tool Freak Listicle Lovers Unite

I am starting to see lots of lists (OK, listicles) of tools for marketers and advertising folks. I love these lists because a real human being has curated the list so I don’t have to spend hours Googling the marketing world. Curation is a good thing. Lists are a good thing. I like humans more than algorythms.

Here Are Three Favorite Marketing Tools Lists

Um, yes, this list itself is a mini-list.

MAQTOOB

As of today, MAQTOOB lists 1,482 tools that cover 112 categories. Here’s what they say:

We want to help you with one single thing. Being your own boss and having control of your own time and money. That’s it. You will find here the best available tools to start and grow your business. If not, let us know what’s missing, or help other entrepreneurs by sharing your feedback…So we can all make a difference.

How about 43 website builders? 79 design resources? 7 ways to make infographics?

Freebie Supply

Ali Mese is one of the smarter self-marketers out there. His looong list that covers: Business, Marketing, Design & Code, Productivity and Learn is made for you Ms. marketer / advertising person / designer and on. Here’s what he says:

I’m a freelance marketer and blogger.

Storytelling, entrepreneurship, and wandering pretty much summarize the things I am passionate about. Recently, I moved from Rome to amazing Singapore to explore Asian countries and learn more about their incredible cultures.

And…

Growth Supply is… my base for things like my newsletter and where I plan to place my side projects such as Freebie Supply.

Razorsocial

Ian Cleary’s Razorsocial is my go-to list of digital tools. His list covers 15 marketing categories. It is very list-like but also includes his words of wisdom (read the blog). The website and tutorials are oriented towards online marketers. He keeps the lists up to date and, if you follow him like I do, you will look smarter than the ad guy down the street. And, isn’t that a positive bene? What he says:

Are you struggling finding the time to be effective with social media and online marketing?

Finding it difficult to find the best online marketing tools and the best process to deliver results?

We are here to help you achieve better results and become more productive with online marketing using the best tools and technology.

We are not the strategy people, we are the tools and technology people.

Even more tools, especially ones that I think will work for advertising professionals are right here. Yes, you can use these to spy on Droga5.