The business case and ROI regarding social media has been made time and time over again. Consumers, individuals, businesses, government, and organizations communicate daily using social media and social networking. It is becoming mandatory that customer service monitoring, response and action take place via social media as so many opportunities to build loyalty and solve real problems now exist.
As you whittle together your effort to leverage this communication mechanism for the greater good of your business and customers, it is imperative that you take some time, now, to put together a social media marketing strategy. The following is a guide to get you started on the right path, and give you some food for thought.
Hopefully by now you’ve figured out that just having a website isn’t the end all be all. There is much more to the story. What is the purpose of your Internet presence?
Ten years or more ago, businesses large and small began taking their websites a bit more seriously. With the success of many of the dot coms, it made the web glamorous. The pond, although big, was attractive and it became common knowledge that having a website, of some nature was key.
People like to be told stories. It doesn’t matter if you are 8 or 88, a story of interest is always appealing, has the power to draw in, and creates an interest in the story teller and who they are. An individual or company aiming to brand themselves need to tell a story.
In a recent discussion with a client in the real estate industry, we discussed ways to truly make their website a hub of useful information to current and prospective customers. At the top of the list was creating genuinely interesting content on their website’s blog. This ranges from telling stories about the local history of the area, highlighting some of the fun things to do, including pictures.
Become a master story teller
Whether speaking or writing on behalf of a small or large business, the end desired impact and hope is the same. To extend the value and importance of your brand. Extended reach can be accomplished with a wide network, whether offline or online. Not only from a public relations perspective, but also a relationship building perspective.
Do you like to be talked at, or conversed with? Its no different with Internet marketing and social media marketing strategy. I was listening to a very interesting webinar featuring Gary Vaynerchuk talking about passion inspired video and creative content, and something that he zeroed in on caught my attention. He said real relationships are key, not the tools.
Business and Consumer Whac-a-Mole
The cycle of word of mouth is intriguing. Don’t view business to consumer and business to business in the traditional sense. Your story, product, service will get sent through the channel of B2B, B2C, BCB, and so forth. Yes that’s right, BCB: Business Consumer Business. How about Consumer Business Consumer. Is that possible? Break the molds, tell the story to your target audience.
Recorded my thoughts in this short video after completing a presentation on Internet marketing strategies for business. View strategy as the umbrella that can help drive the objectives and goals. Watch below or on YouTube here.
Can you quantify your social media and networking efforts? Yes? No? Maybe? There isn’t a right or wrong answer.
There are those who have tried, tested, and proven that social networking works for them. It may be the core of their leads and referrals, or at least significant enough where could answer the above question with a big yes. Others, not so much, kind of a meh, still trying to figure it out, don’t have the time and are hoping so. Of course, there are always, and some legitimately, a big stinkin’ no. This could be for any imaginable reason, maybe it truly does not work for them, and there is a chance they flubbed their efforts.
Is social networking making you money? This question posed, in a recent article by Martha Retallick, makes a clear point that if you aren’t out there networking with your target market, whether this be online or offline, then you are essentially wasting your time. Taking time away from where you could be allocating to potentially a better target. Are you getting leads from peers or colleagues? Is your business thriving because of the time spent networking online with an old acquaintance? As an insightful commenter stated, “I don’t put all of my eggs in one basket.”
Social networking and media can be important components of an organizations and individuals overall branding and marketing strategy. Income is necessary, and critical, to keep business and life going, observe where your energy is being spent, use time wisely, leverage the contacts you make and be useful to others, and social networking will work, in a profitable way.
We are an Internet marketing and social media marketing company that helps businesses get found on the Internet, initiate more leads and convert a higher amount of those leads into customers.
Can you quantify your social media and networking efforts? Yes? No? Maybe? There isn’t a right or wrong answer.
