Five social media marketing tips

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Facebook used to be just a place where mothers would write about their kids, brides would talk to girlfriends about their upcoming wedding and friends would share photos of their latest trip or party.

Then businesses got wind of the 750 million people on Facebook and decided to chime in, with business pages that tout specials, deals and other business-related promotions.

But there’s an art to communicating in an atmosphere that’s supposed to be about sharing, not selling.

Matthew Funk, a social media expert with TK Carsites, offers tips that apply to car dealerships and really any business wanting a Facebook presence. Here are highlights:

1. Use Facebook to make friends, not customers

“People develop positive feelings with a person, not for a page,” he says. Write about your local community and events, and try to post items of interest that go beyond your business. A good viral video “doesn’t make you think, `I want to buy a car from the dealership,’ but it does keep you in the news feed and reinforces the name.”

2. Post three times a day, no more

“Don’t overwhelm people,” he says. “That’s a turn-off.” Funk says the best times to post are 7 a.m., 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., “the peak high-traffic times for Facebook.”

3. Don’t post silliness just to add another item

Surveys of favorite ice cream flavors are a waste of time that will just annoy people, he says. “It has very little real worth. Share stuff that has a reason for sharing.”

4. Provide incentives; don’t be pushy

“People come to your social media to find perks, but they don’t want sales forced on them,” Funk says. Offer the deals just once a week, not every day, he recommends.

5. Be exciting

“Whenever possible, post the kind of content you’d want to share with your friends,” he says. “Facebook marketing isn’t about selling as much as it is about sharing.”

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Facebook tied to poor mental health in teens: What parents must know

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(CBS) Is Facebook turning teens into narcissistic, antisocial outcasts?

One leading social network researcher says yes. His research shows that while Facebook can help kids develop greater empathy – and give shy teens a way to socialize – it also brings mental health problems.

Pictures: 5 creepy things you didn’t know about Facebook

In an aptly named talk, “Poke Me: How Social Networks Can Both Help and Harm Our Kids,” Dr. Larry D. Rosen, professor of psychology at California State University said frequent Facebook-surfing teens show more aggression, mania, anxiety, and depression. He said these issues can lead to worse health problems as they get older.

Facebook can also screw up a teen’s schooling – Rosen cited studies that showed teens who checked Facebook frequently got lower test grades. He presented his findings Saturday at a psychology conference in Washington D.C.

What should parents do to minimize the bad effects?

Don’t buy that software that lets you track and block your kid’s internet use, Mom and Dad.

“If you feel that you have to use some sort of computer program to surreptitiously monitor your child’s social networking, you are wasting your time.” Rosen said in a written statement. “Your child will find a workaround in a matter of minutes.”

He suggests talking to your kids.

“Communication is the crux of parenting,” he said in the statement. “You have to start talking about appropriate technology use early and often and build trust, so that when there is a problem -whether it is being bullied or seeing a disturbing image – your child will talk to you about it.”

But don’t talk too much. Rosen says parents should talk to their kids in a five to one ratio – talk one minute, then listen for five. Other tips include setting rules and limits on technology with your child’s input – like two-minute tech breaks after 15 minutes of studying – and writing a behavioral contract with set consequences.

Parents, what do you do to limit your kid’s internet use?

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