This Shane Barker infographic outlines which key performance indicators marketers should use for various content goals, including boosting brand awareness, lead generation and driving sales. Advice includes using tools such as BuzzSumo to identify top-performing social content based on shares, and tracking audience engagement via interactions and comments.

Shane Barker examines how influencers spur purchases by tapping into people's innate psychological need to be part of a "tribe" and looks at how they can help marketers boost brand awareness, build stronger customer relationships and use informed storytelling to sway buying decisions without overt selling. "Social media influencers tap into core human interactive needs, which spur response, often in the form of purchase action," he writes.

Small-business owners are often pressed for time, so automating tasks such as email and invoice management can be helpful, writes Shane Barker. Setting up payroll systems, calendars and task-management solutions can also lighten the load.

Small-business owners are often pressed for time, so automating tasks such as email and invoice management can be helpful, writes Shane Barker. Setting up payroll systems, calendars and task-management solutions can also lighten the load.