Oxjam is an annual music festival that takes place in cities across the UK. Thousands of music lovers of all ages attend the events to raise money for Oxfam. Oxjam Leicester is the biggest and most successful festival in the country, and this year looks to be even better than before.

Over the last few months, Cite have been providing Oxjam Leicester with social media support and advice, as well as bi-weekly reporting on its Facebook activity. Our reports analyse Facebook Insights to provide a detailed understanding of how Oxjam Leicester’s Facebook fans interact with its page. As the campaign has progressed, the reports have helped to determine what is working and what isn’t so Oxjam Leicester can adjust its Facebook activity accordingly.

This is not the first time Cite have worked with Oxjam, last year we developed a smartphone app for the festival.

The festival takes place October 20, 2012 and we highly recommend it. Get your tickets today and keep your eyes out for the Cite team at the event.

For more information about our support and reporting services, please contact us today on 0116 254 9888.

The post Facebook reporting for Oxjam Leicester appeared first on Cite.

Although some people are a bit surprised at the sudden turn-around on this three-year partnership, Twitter’s crack down on tweets doesn’t come from out of the blue. Twitter has gradually been restricting tweets being displayed on websites, but those efforts have been primarily focused on mobile clients. The company also placed a moratorium on third-party apps a year ago and has since stated that it would continue to introduce stricter guidelines on how its API is used, so it was only a matter of time before a major change came around.

By removing tweets from LinkedIn, Twitter hopes to generate more traffic on its own site. It’s probably no coincidence that this is happening at the same time as Twitter releases new features for advertisers, like expanded tweets and Twitter cards. It will be interesting to see how far Twitter decides to take this new focus. Will it stop allowing people to sync their accounts to Facebook? Will it continue to allow companies to pull in their tweets onto their website?

The partnership between Linkedin and Twitter has not completely ended, however, as LinkedIn still allows user to post status updates that can then be shared to their Twitter account.

While it may have been convenient to use the integration between Twitter and LinkedIn, we’ve always encouraged people to write separate updates for each social network.  By doing so, you will be able to target your audiences better and take advantage of the different functionality on each site.  If you have been using Twitter to update your LinkedIn page, visit our LinkedIn Tips for Business to learn more about how to improve your LinkedIn account.

What are your thoughts on this change? Let us know in the comments below.

For more information on how we can help you improve your company’s Twitter strategy or to learn about our other social media services, please contact our social media agency today.

The post Twitter Drops LinkedIn Integration appeared first on Cite.

Pinterest doesn’t rely on text-based newsfeeds like many other social networks do, instead it is based on sharing photos and images to tell a story or start a conversation. Unlike other image-led social networks, like Instagram and Flickr, most of the content shared on Pinterest is something a user has found on the web, not a photo they’ve personally taken. This in turn generates interest for the website where the original image was found. Everything from fashion and travel to recipes and memes are being “pinned” to people’s profiles, known as boards. Pins can be liked, commented on and “repinned,” helping them go viral quickly.

At the moment Pinterest accounts can only be created by invitation only, but those aren’t too hard to come by since existing members can send people a request to join or individuals can directly request an invitation from Pinterest. People really have been requesting invites, and last December Pinterest became one of the top ten social networks, with over 11 million visits per week.

What does all these mean for social media marketing? Well, as the old saying goes, a picture really is worth a 1,000 words and with so many brands vying for attention online, there’s nothing better than a great image to send people to your website. Pinterest has become so popular, that it now drives more referral web traffic to retail websites than LinkedIn, YouTube, and Google+ combined!

Pinterest is especially popular with women in their 20’s and 30’s, and brands targeting this demographic will find the site really effective, especially if their products look great. Women’s magazines have quite possibly benefitted the most from Pinterest, and many have seen a sharp increase in web traffic because of the site. Cooking Light’s website, for example, saw an increase in visitors of 6,000% in six months because of the Pinterest’s referral traffic.

Cite have even gotten into the spirit of Pinterest and started our own profile. There we feature a portfolio of our work, and even some fun infographics and tech toys that we’d love to have. There’s something to be said for the power of images and we expect Pinterest to be around for quite some time.

Check out our Pinterest profile today and don’t forget to follow us. For more information on our social media services, give us a call on 0116 54 9888.

The post Cite Joins Pinterest appeared first on Cite.

Like-gating is the practice of preventing people from viewing all or parts of a Facebook page before a user has liked it.  The practice has grown very popular as brands put more emphasis on increasing the number of likes they have on Facebook. The Like-gates themselves are usually well-branded pages that entice visitors by teasing them with the benefits they will receive when they like the page, and there’s no doubt that they do convince some users to relinquish their highly sought after Like.

Since the decision of whether or not to Like-gate a page is ultimately left to the brand, here are some pros and cons of Like-gating to help you decide if it is right for your business:

Pros of Like-gating:

• Encourages users to like your page who may otherwise not have done so. This will allow your Facebook updates to appear on their newsfeed, putting your brand in front of them on a regular basis.

• Rewards your fans with exclusive content, making them feel valued as customers.

• Provides a call-to-action for people coming to your Facebook Page. This is especially useful in coordination with PPC campaigns.

• Tailors content for new users, allowing you to highlight certain marketing messages that don’t need to be shown to your current fans.

Cons of Like-gating:

• Creates a false sense of community since many of your fans have been forced to like you, rather than actually wanting to follow you on Facebook.

• Doesn’t ensure retention. People who like your page because of a Like-gate can just as easily unlike it once they have gotten the content they want.

• Turns some people off and causes them to go away from your page altogether, leaving you with missed opportunities of reaching them at any level.

• Too focussed on the vanity number of likes rather than improving the relationships with fans. A small group of engaged fans is much better than a large group that doesn’t interact with your brand and Like-gating does nothing for engagement.

In our opinion Like-gates can be effective when used properly.  We wouldn’t recommend Like-gating an entire page, because you want people to be able to see your basic information and what your brand has to offer.  This is especially important for campaigns whose goal is to raise brand awareness.  Also, leaving your page open will make people feel as though you aren’t only on Facebook to market to large numbers, but because your brand is truly interested in developing relationships with your customers.

On the other hand, Like-gates can be effective if the content behind them is of high value to your visitor. So, if you have a great app or special offer on your page, people will be more likely to go through the Like-gate and remain your fans.

Striking the right balance is important when using Like-gates, so use them only when you think your page could benefit.  And, for extra measure, make sure to monitor your page’s Insights to see how the Like-gate affects your Facebook traffic and the interactions you have with your fans.

For more information on our social media services and app development services, contact us today.

Visit Cite’s Facebook Page to see if we use a Like-gate in our own social media marketing.

The post The Pros and Cons of Like-gating appeared first on Cite.

We deliver a quick turnaround, so Pure doesn’t have to wait around once they’ve got a great idea for a competition. Each competition is designed with a different look and feel, while offering Pure the same easy-to-use functionality and data collection methods. We also host all of the competitions, give them any support they need, and peace of mind that it will all run smoothly.

To date the competitions have been drawing a lot of attention from Pure’s listeners, and we’re excited to be part of it all.

For more information on our Facebook app services, contact us today.

Want to learn more about the possibilities with a Facebook competition app? Find out how Taylor Wimpey is using our Facebook Competition App Template to improve their Facebook strategy.

The post Cite Welcomes Pure Digital Radio as a Client appeared first on Cite.

A few weeks ago it was reported that Manchester United is building their own social network for their 500 million international supporters.  The platform will have sponsorship opportunities for brands and will sell club merchandise through an e-commerce function on the network.  There will also be multimedia and exclusive content available to users.

HSBC has also joined the trend, announcing that they will be developing their “own version of Facebook” for customers’ financial and non-financial needs. While the project is still in its early days, the platform will be part of a larger digital strategy aimed at engaging existing and potential customers.

The opportunity for engagement is huge since all members of the network would be interested in your brand. Imagine apps built into entire social networks, or hundreds of millions of people participating in one conversation. There are definite growth prospects for social media marketing for any brand big enough to create their own network.

While branded social networks aren’t in full swing yet, we are inclined to believe that they will become more and more common. Larger multinational corporations with a customer base of hundreds of millions of people will most likely develop these platforms, although we could see this also working well for universities and charities.  It will be interesting to see if the public is loyal enough to join these branded networks and how the platforms engage on an even grander scale.  It will also be interesting to see if this affects major social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

For now, though, we’ll keep and eye on the trend and daydream of how great a Cite Social Network could be.

For more information on our social media services, contact our Facebook app developers at 0116 254 9888.

The post Trendwatch: Branded Social Networks appeared first on Cite.

The app includes information about HIV and personal experiences from teenagers growing up with the disease.  From stories and testimonials, to factual information, users can gain a better understanding of HIV and how teenagers’ lives are affected by it.

The app also includes four different badges that people can display on their Facebook wall in support of Pozitude’s mission to prevent discrimination and stigma of those living with HIV.  The badges include:
1. Nobody’s fault: It’s no one’s fault they have HIV.
2. Just say no: Say no to stigma against HIV
3. Support your friends: If my friend had HIV I would do my best to support them.
4. No secrets: Young people born with HIV should not have to keep it a secret.

This is the third project we’ve done for the charity, along with a website for Pozitude and its sister organisation, Beehive, which works with children living with HIV.

The app’s launch comes on the heels of Pozitude’s nomination for a national Digital Heroes award.  So, first and foremost, visit the Digital Heroes website to vote for this great charity to win. And don’t forget to check out the Stamp out Stigma Facebook app and let us know what you think!

For more information on our Facebook app services, give us a shout on 0116 254 9888.

The post Pozitude Facebook app launched appeared first on Cite.

Powder follows the story of a young man who dreams of being a rock star and his journey through the world of rock n’ roll.  Since the film was shot on location at the V-festival, the app centres on a competition for visitors attending the festival this year.

The lucky music fans that are at the V-festival are being encouraged to photograph the essence of the event, and then upload it to the app.

And while you have to be at Weston or Hylands Park to enter, anyone can vote on their favourite entries.  First prize is tickets for next year’s V-festival and 10 runners-up will receive DVD’s of Powder.

In addition to the competition, visitors can also learn more about the movie, watch a trailer, and share the app with others.

Check out the app and vote for the photos you like facebook.com/powderfilm.

The post Soda Pictures Facebook App Launched appeared first on Cite.

Powder follows the story of a young man who dreams of being a rock star and his journey through the world of rock n’ roll.  Since the film was shot on location at the V-festival, the app centres on a competition for visitors attending the festival this year.

The lucky music fans that are at the V-festival are being encouraged to photograph the essence of the event, and then upload it to the app.

And while you have to be at Weston or Hylands Park to enter, anyone can vote on their favourite entries.  First prize is tickets for next year’s V-festival and 10 runners-up will receive DVD’s of Powder.

In addition to the competition, visitors can also learn more about the movie, watch a trailer, and share the app with others.

Check out the app and vote for the photos you like facebook.com/powderfilm.

The post Soda Pictures Facebook App Launched appeared first on Cite.

But we’re here to help, whether it’s a lack of time that’s stopping you or a fear of the unknown.

Cite offers a monthly social media service that will relieve the pressure of updating your corporate profiles while professionally improving your social media presence.

Like the rest of us in the office, our social media experts love to spend time on social networks like Twitter, LinkedIn, Quora and Facebook.  More importantly, we know how to make social media work for our clients to bring in relevant leads and enquiries.

Whatever your choice of social media, our team can help.  The process is simple: we’ll understand what you want to achieve from social media, advise you on which channels will be most beneficial, and tailor the campaign to meet your company’s social media goals.

We’ll write all of your company’s status updates, make sure your profiles are up-to-date, and write new blog posts for your website.
While we’re working the social networks for you, you’ll still be in control of your profiles but the time you save can be geared towards other activities in your business.

Our expertise in social media communications has assisted many clients in creating a strong online presence for their brands so give us a call to find out more about our social media services.

The post Cite offer monthly social media services appeared first on Cite.