Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/459961
February 2015 | Boating Industry | 33 [ Social media that sells ] www.BoatingIndustry.com hashtags to add your post content to the conversation. And unlike Twit- ter, those hashtags are smart, so tagging #BostonWhaler will organically add your post to the #Boats hashtag so users can find your posts easily. Off the network is where the platform really shines. Google Plus posts actually show up in search engine results pages or SERPs. That means every post behaves more like a blog posting; it's indexed, it has a ranking and it's easy to find without getting on Google Plus. No other mainstream social media platform works like that – one handy perk of being part of the Google powerhouse. And because those posts have a ranking, they pass along that link value. So unlike a standard social signal, Google Plus posts actually pass the link juice, credibility, authority — whatever you want to call it — to the original source. But here is where using any social network for SEO gets murky. While the search juggernaut is mum on exactly how social signals (all the likes, shares, +1s and favorites) actually affect search, evidence shows a strong correlation between social activity and better SEO. Evidence from SEO investigators like KISSetrics, Moz and others shows that social signals from Google Plus are especially valuable. Google, of course, will stay vague on the topic and tell users that great content makes people want to link and share that content; driving SEO through good content. So businesses that don't want to learn any more Internet acronyms can just continue making great content – but be sure to link it on Google Plus just in case. YOUR PHONE VIDEO TOOLBOX The default video apps for the iPhone and Android are a great start for creating a video, but there are a few apps out there that make it even easier to make a compel- ling, professional-quality video right on your phone. HYPERLAPSE – FREE The video app from the makers of Instagram makes time-lapse videos without a tripod, special camera or computer. The speedy videos are great for B-roll videos, fun videos of your marina on a busy day or other service process videos. STEADY – $1.99 This app goes beyond the on-board camera application by tapping into your iOS device's gyroscope. The result is super steady video even with significant bounces. Video created with this app would be ideal for an on the water shoot or an on-trailer tour of a boat. MAGISTO – FREE This app does all the editing for you and allows for extra functionality to trim clips and put filters on your videos, as well as add music and sound effects. It's a great option for businesses that want a little more power out of their free video editor. YOUTUBE – FREE Monitor your channel, upload videos and be ready to show off your boat videos at the drop of a hat. DRIVE – FREE If you're shooting a lot of video, your phone's memory is going to go fast. Upload those clips directly to the cloud to save on space and keep your videos safe – especially useful when working on the water!