Print Article for : Marketing On Social Media

Your Online Guide » Ideas for Marketing » Guide To Marketing

[M272]Marketing On Social Media

by Seomul Evans, Seo

If you've been paying attention at all as a small business owner, then you know how important it is to make social networking sites an integral part of your online marketing strategy. The one question you may still have is how to measure the success of your online marketing campaign. Given the current economic situation, you're probably concerned with making every marketing dollar count, so how can you make sure you social networking efforts are worth the effort? Here are five easy keys to guide you.

1. Listen to Your Audience. Given the number of social networking sites on the internet, it's completely unreasonable to utilize all of them. Start by finding out which social networking sites are most highly populated by your target audience, and then listen to what your potential customers are saying.

2. Involve Yourself. Once you've found your target audience on a few key social networking sites, start engaging your target audience. The first step is to listen to what they are saying about your company. If you find that what you hear isn't positive, find a way to help the customers that aren't happy with the products or services that you provide. Do what you can to make things right. If you find that your target audience only has positive things to say, continue to engage them, listening to what they have to say. You'll find that their positive attitudes about your business will only grow.

3. Give Back. Social networking sites are great places to post information that will lead to positive customer attitudes about your product or service. Start a business blog, tweet on Twitter, put photos on your Flickr site, and create Podcasts. These types of activities will drive potential customers to your site, and if your site is optimized to make leads out of visitors, your sales will increase!

4. Use Your Tools Wisely. Making your social networking strategy mesh with your business strategy is critical, but that can't happen until you've become familiar with how each social networking site works and how it can best benefit your business. How does each site connect you with clients and potential customers? Which sites specialize in the kind of customer contact that is most beneficial to your business? How can you use a variety of different social networking sites together to find potential customers and engage them? Answer these questions and watch your social media marketing strategy work for you.

5. Measure, measure, measure. You're running a business, and the bottom line is determining the return on your investment in social media marketing. But the good news is that social media marketing has a significant impact on the inbound marketing techniques that you're already using. For example, social networking can increase your search engine ranking, your inbound links, and the number of customers who subscribe to your RSS feed. You will notice that it increases the comments left on your blog, the number of times that your brand is mentioned in cyberspace, and first time visitors. In other words, social networking enhances the strategies you're already using. You can use a good analytics package plus tracking codes and closed loop marketing to find out the number of visits and sales that occur as a result of your social media marketing strategy.

What you'll find in the long run is that social media marketing can have a huge impact on the success of your business if you use it the right way. And the right way includes finding your target audience on a small number of appropriate social networking sites, listening to what they have to say, humbly and graciously joining the conversation they're having about your industry in general and your company in particular, and righting any mistakes that you've made in the past. Find the right places to frequent and the right conversations to join and your efforts will pay off in the end!

Samantha, a 24 year old young professional, is hustling through the airport on business. Her laptop is stowed, she isn't browsing a magazine or newspaper, and she is completely oblivious to advertising plastered on walls all around her. She is texting, Twittering, and browsing the Web on her cell phone.

To reach the modern customer, the young, the affluent you need to reach their mobile phone in a social way.

The New Marketing Campaign

As you think about your next marketing campaign, reposition your thinking. Consumers are no longer static. They are on the move and they favor personal interaction. New media marketing is contingent on 3 secrets for success:

-Mobility -Social Interaction -Brand/Trust

Mobile Marketing

Consumers are not just using mobile phones more--they are expecting service and fulfillment. Advertisers are using text, twitter, and other social tools to deliver promotions, products, services, and customer service. Not only does it add value to your campaign, it makes it easier for a customer to have a great experience or even buy from you.

This is why it is so critical for your marketing department or marketing partner to be able to think and execute in this emerging space. Static websites, glossy brochures, and flashy print advertising is increasingly a blur to busy consumers.

Social Media

Although mobile is fundamental to your new media marketing campaign, making it social will maximize your results. Consumers increasingly want to interact with their favorite brands. Social tools like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Last.fm are connecting highly targeted market segments, from business to music interests, into trust-based networks of consumers. Engage in conversations with your customers to be successful.

Traditional marketing companies are dropping into social networks with horrid consequences. Enter into these social networks with a genuine interest in the people and their wants. If you are going to engage a marketing firm, make sure they understand the space and have an existing presence.

Brand and Trust

The final element to new marketing success is the building of brand and trust. This concept is significantly different from traditional branding. In new media marketing you are building credibility and trust through awareness and connectivity.

Yes, press releases still have a role in new media marketing. The new media press release should establish credibility, but also connect to deeper resources at your website and drive social following of your services.

If you are considering more impact for your marketing dollar it is time to consider new media marketing. As the definitive guide to new media The Cluetrain Manifesto reminds us--"markets are conversations."

Get your trust-based marketing mobile and social!

Article Source : marketing mix products

About Author

Both Seomul Evans & Bill Rice are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Seomul Evans has sinced written about articles on various topics from Search Engine Marketing, Business Promotion and PPC Advertising. Seomul Evans is a senior Expert specializing in. Seomul Evans's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.

Bill Rice has sinced written about articles on various topics from Asset Management, Internet Marketing and Multi Level Marketing. Biz In Need is a . As a leader in mobile marketing and social media we can help you start the conversation with your customers. Let our experts guid. Bill Rice's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.