Social marketing doesn't follow the same sort of rules that previous marketing strategies once did, nor does it feel as formal as they used to. That's because the new social media is not all one-way, as the old advertising campaigns were. Social media today has opened up a conversation in which customers expect to be listened to and treated with respect. So any company hoping to promote itself on the various social media sites had better keep this in mind if they wish to succeed.
As a basic example, let's assume that a company's social media strategy is to put in place a Facebook Fan Page, a blog, and a Twitter profile. Facebook allows the company to post the latest news about services, but is also a place where it publishes notifications about events and surveys, and poses questions like, "Would you like this type of product?" or "How should we undertake this aim?" As individuals become fans of the company, their own friends are notified, and several follow them there. They connect with the company and with each other, and the page becomes a social marketing website with the fans frequently doing as much marketing as the company.
A blog, including the occasional video blog, allows the company to do reviews of its products or services, while other posts are written to discuss the general use of these products, or the trends in the industry. As long as there is ongoing valuable information here as well as self-promotional material, people will keep returning. If the company also sets up a Flickr photo site to showcase its products, then this social marketing tool could allow customers to send in their own photographs of these products as they are being used. These photos can be linked to in blog posts on Facebook or on Twitter.
Twitter provides a means of going beyond a mere social media campaign and engaging in genuine conversation. If the business's social media communicator sees questions about the company's products, how to use them, or other related things, then that person can reply to the specific people with answers. Twitter is a handy social marketing tool because it allows on-the-spot communication, and can be used to promote quick deals as well as linking to other sites. The point of all of these tools is to engage the company with the customers as real people, to their mutual benefit.
Social marketing on the major networking sites is going to involve a different sort of approach than the old advertising campaigns once did. These social networks are exactly what that phrase implies: a network of equals, conversing and relating to each other. Any business setting up shop on one of these sites will need to be prepared to draw customers into the process, talk to them, and even more important, listen to them. - 32606
As a basic example, let's assume that a company's social media strategy is to put in place a Facebook Fan Page, a blog, and a Twitter profile. Facebook allows the company to post the latest news about services, but is also a place where it publishes notifications about events and surveys, and poses questions like, "Would you like this type of product?" or "How should we undertake this aim?" As individuals become fans of the company, their own friends are notified, and several follow them there. They connect with the company and with each other, and the page becomes a social marketing website with the fans frequently doing as much marketing as the company.
A blog, including the occasional video blog, allows the company to do reviews of its products or services, while other posts are written to discuss the general use of these products, or the trends in the industry. As long as there is ongoing valuable information here as well as self-promotional material, people will keep returning. If the company also sets up a Flickr photo site to showcase its products, then this social marketing tool could allow customers to send in their own photographs of these products as they are being used. These photos can be linked to in blog posts on Facebook or on Twitter.
Twitter provides a means of going beyond a mere social media campaign and engaging in genuine conversation. If the business's social media communicator sees questions about the company's products, how to use them, or other related things, then that person can reply to the specific people with answers. Twitter is a handy social marketing tool because it allows on-the-spot communication, and can be used to promote quick deals as well as linking to other sites. The point of all of these tools is to engage the company with the customers as real people, to their mutual benefit.
Social marketing on the major networking sites is going to involve a different sort of approach than the old advertising campaigns once did. These social networks are exactly what that phrase implies: a network of equals, conversing and relating to each other. Any business setting up shop on one of these sites will need to be prepared to draw customers into the process, talk to them, and even more important, listen to them. - 32606
About the Author:
Though you often see the terms 'social media' and 'social networking' used in different ways, in reality they are very similar. The media aspect is the method of communication whereas the networking is the social interaction. There are a number of social media resources that will help you navigate this exciting new world.
