Marketing and Design Blog

Helpful Advice for Marketing Professionals: The Basics of Blogging

You’ve probably heard that your business should have a blog.

You’ve heard impressive stats around blogging, like that businesses with active blogs get about seven times more organic search traffic and 55% more visitors, for example.

You’ve heard that blogging can help you establish your industry expertise, give your business a voice, and improve your rankings in search results.

But where do you start? What do you say?

Click here to learn more about 'The Basics of Blogging'.

The New News Feed is Coming

Earlier this month, Facebook announced a big design change coming to the site - the new Facebook News Feed.

Read more about the changes coming to the Facebook News Feed. 

Atomicdust Named a ‘Top 10 Social-Savvy Agency’

Atomicdust was named one of the Top 10 Social-Savvy Agencies in the country by online marketing publication, The Agency Post.

In a nationwide call for entries, our ‘Face Off Against Hunger’ campaign for St. Louis Food Outreach was recognized as one of the ten most compelling social stories.

We’re honored to be named alongside some of the most creative and respected agencies in the business, and even more proud to be one of the few Midwest agencies featured.

The Agency Post wasn’t just looking for increases in followers or likes or views, but for campaigns that "motivated users to engage, connect and care." That’s exactly what happened with ‘Face Off’, and we have the community, the team at Food Outreach and, of course, the incredible creative and social media team at Atomicdust to thank for that.  

Danielle to Share Pinterest Tips at PRSA Tech Day

As the popularity of Pinterest builds, brands are jumping on the bandwagon. Just like an other social tool, there are do's and don'ts regarding how your brand should be represented on the site, and even the question of whether Pinterest is a good fit for a brand to begin with.

On Friday, Danielle Hohmeier, Online Marketing Manager at Atomicdust, will be presenting 'Building a Visual Brand on Pinterest' at PRSA St. Louis Tech Day, along with fellow Social Media Club St. Louis board members, Lisa Derus and Jessica Leitch.

PRSA St. Louis Tech Day is being held Friday, November 9th at Mercy Conference Center in St. Louis. The half-day conference features presentations on public relations, social media, SEO and marketing from some of St. Louis' brightest minds. Visit PRSA's website to learn more about the event and to register. 

Want to learn more about Pinterest but can't make it on Friday? Download Atomicdust's free guide, 'Should My Brand Be on Pinterest?'

Facebook now showing ‘Sponsored Results’

Facebook Ads. Sponsored Stories. Promoted Posts. There are plenty of options for advertising on the world’s most popular social network (and second most popular website).

Now, there’s Sponsored Results - the latest advertising option from Facebook. Sponsored Results launched in August, and work more similarly to Google AdWords in that you bid on key words and phrases. The interesting thing is that it appears you are allowed to bid on other brand names or even irrelevant terms. 

Read more about Sponsored Results for Facebook. 

Danielle Named to SMCSTL Board

Social networking has become a permanent staple in our lives. Be honest, how many of you check Facebook, Twitter or Instagram before you get out of bed in the morning?

Admit it. You do.

It’s ok, because Danielle Hohmeier does too. That’s why Social Media Club St. Louis recently added Atomicdust’s brilliant (and borderline addicted) online marketing manager to its board. 

SMCSTL will be tapping into Danielle’s expertise in content development, social strategy and blogging as the team prepares for a new season of networking events, speaker engagements and workshops. As one of the St. Louis area’s leading authorities on social media best practices, SMCSTL “serves as a resource for learning about emerging trends, tools, technologies, strategies and opportunities.”

And we can’t think of anyone more resourceful in social media than Danielle. Congratulations!

Battle of the Beans. Goshen Coffee Company’s Bean vs Bean Challenge.

When longtime friend and client Jay Beard bought Edwardsville’s Goshen Coffee Company last spring, we were excited to start working on developing a brand for a product we love - coffee.

Our first goal was to use social media to build hype for Goshen Coffee and the new bags and website that were coming this fall. We know that on Facebook, people typically respond to two things - things that are useful, and things that are funny. We wanted to create a promotion that people could laugh at and want to share with their friends. 

And with that, the Bean vs Bean Challenge was born.

Read more about Goshen Coffee Company's Bean vs Bean Challenge. 

Mike to Speak at CSPRC Roundtable

On Tuesday, Mike Spakowski, Partner/Creative Director at Atomicdust, will join Food Outreach's Executive Director, Greg Lukemann, to share social media insight with the Community Service Public Relations Council (CSPRC) of St. Louis at their monthly luncheon. 

The Community Service Public Relations Council (CSPRC) provides professional and organizational development opportunities for those working in non-profit management, marketing communications, public relations, fundraising, and volunteer management. This month’s luncheon roundtable will feature discussions on the importance of social media to non-profts. 

Mike and Greg's discussion - 'When an Idea Sparks: Using Social Media to Fan the Fire' - will focus on how social media propelled Face Off Against Hunger, a fundraiser developed by Atomicdust to benefit Food Outreach that eventually raised $4,000 for the non-profit. 

The luncheon roundtable is taking place at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel on Tuesday, July 10th. Click here to learn more about the event.

Cleveland or Dust: Hittin’ the Road

The day has finally come. This morning, seven of us loaded up the van and hit the road for an epic road trip from St. Louis to Cleveland for the Weapons of Mass Creation 2012 Creative Conference. 

Follow our journey through tweets and pictures at ClevelandOrDust.com. 

#clevelandordust

Atomicdust Participating in St. Louis Business Journal’s Social Madness Challenge

Atomicdust has been chosen to compete against other St. Louis small businesses in the St. Louis Business Journal’s Social Madness Challenge.

Social Madness is a local and national challenge that will spotlight the best social media programs of companies in 43 cities. Winners are determined based on online votes and audience growth on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Want to help us win?

First of all, make sure you like Atomicdust on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and follow us on LinkedIn. Then head over to the Social Madness site and vote for us! And don’t forget to tell your friends!

The first round of the St. Louis challenge begins today and lasts until Tuesday, June 19th.

No matter what the outcome, this contest a great way to showcase St. Louis’ growing social media presence and we wish the best of luck to all the local companies participating!