Should I blog, tweet, link, or create a Facebook group? Does anyone really care?
“So, I’m not sure I get all this blog, Twitter, and Facebook stuff. How do I use it?” is a question I have been asked very often lately, to which I respond “well isn’t that the question of the day”. You’re in a cave if you have not heard enough and too much about Twitter, especially as a marketer. (As a side-note, should Web 2.0 at this point be Web 2.5?)
If you are in my shoes, how do you respond to the question? The first question back should ALWAYS be 'What are your objectives'. Then, how can social media tools help you as part of your integrated marketing plan. Many people miss that first part. If you do not start there you’ll end up chasing tactics with no purpose. Then later your company thinks ‘Gee, that didn’t really do anything. Did we measure it’? How can you measure something that didn’t have an objective to start?
In a prior post I discuss how marketing is too tactical; and, I read with interest articles about companies scrambling to get into social media only to claim ‘it’s not working’. Chase tactics, you’ll chase your tail. Chase objectives and you’ll move the organization. So here are some suggestions for incorporating social media:
One: Ask yourself, what am I trying to achieve? Feedback? Word of mouth? Referrals? Top-of-mind? Lead-Gen?
Second: Can social media help you in your marketing ‘toolkit’ to get there?
Third: Shape your social media tactic to get there. For instance, if an objective is to stay Top-of-Mind, write a blog and push it out to your network/prospects. But don’t cry if people don’t start calling. A blog for purposes of staying top-of-mind is not lead generation. However, if your goal is lead gen then your blog and/social media tactics would take different variation including some type of offer. But if you do that, don’t cry if people say you’re ‘too salesy’. Well, that is the subtle purpose of lead generation.
Fourth: Rome wasn’t built in a day (but it is one of my favorite cities). It takes time to build a relationship. Social media is basically one big relationship (and helps word of mouth marketing).
What do you think?
Jackie
Categories: blogging,marketing tips,strategies,social media best practice
Tags: marketing tips social media strategies
Very wise advice. This seems to be the million dollar question of 2009. People tend to forget that all this is is a new channel, the marketing principles remain the same.
One thing I also ask is, "Are your customers using social media, and what parts of it?" You can have the right objectives and strategy, but if your customers aren't using social media, you have no one there to build a relationship with!
Reply to this
True. The foundation of sound marketing: What's the objective? Who is your target? How do you reach your target?
Reply to this
Jackie,
Since I am one of the people that asked you about blogging, I have to say that your advice has been very helpful in launching my own blog - http://questions4obama.blogspot.com/ <-- too salesy - oops! Great advise especially on the setting goals first front.
Reply to this
Thank you Dan. And you were my inspiration today. So you've got that going for you.
Reply to this
Your blog has inspired me this morning. Th key point that resonated for me is social media enhances an individual's or brand's marketing "toolkit." You need multiple touch points when marketing today thanks to all the clutter out there.
PS - I also like the fact that you enable comments with more characters than Twitter. Thanks.
Reply to this
Thanks Jim. I love when I can be someone's inspiration.
Reply to this
Your blog inspires me also, but I'm not sure why. Can the use of social media tools ever be bad? Perhaps I am being a simpleton in your marketing world, but outside of the chance of appearing cheesy or tacky, it seems like a simple and relatively inexpensive way to market your product. If that is the case, does it matter how effective it is?
Reply to this
I think it depends first on what one considers 'inexpensive'. And 'who cares if it's effective'? Probably the person paying.
Reply to this
Wow, I never knew that Should I blog, tweet, link, or create a Facebook group? Does anyone really care. That's pretty interesting...
Reply to this
Excellent post you have here.PageRank has also been used to rank spaces or streets to predict how many people (pedestrians or vehicles) come to the individual spaces or streets.Thanks for sharing this article.
Reply to this
There are different types of marketing strategies based on some criteria. Challenger, Leader and Follower are types of market dominance strategies. Market dominance strategies are used to dominate the market. Cost leadership, Market segmentation and Product differentiation are types of porter generic strategies. Porter generic strategies are built on strategic strength or competing abilities and strategic scope or market penetration. Close followers, late follower and Pioneers are types of innovation strategies. Innovation strategies are meant to trigger the rate of product development and model innovation. It helps the firm to incorporate latest technologies. Intensification, Diversification, Vertical integration and Horizontal integration are types of growth strategies.
Reply to this
Make sure you select a title, category and description that is relevant to your brand because this will entice people to join your group. I also suggest that you be as transparent as possible and offer information such as contact information, website, phone number and location. This allows group members to associate the group to an actual person rather than any old computer generated content.
Reply to this
Keep in mind that while Groups and Pages now look the same, they still serve different purposes. Groups are for fostering member-to-member collaboration, while Pages remain the best way to broadcast messages to your fans if you are a business, organization, public figure or other entity
Reply to this
What's the objective? Who is your target? How do you reach your target?
Reply to this
what one considers 'inexpensive'. And 'who cares if it's effective'? Probably the person paying.
Reply to this
Who cares is the person who really finds your story interesting. So go for targeted members from social networking sites. It will depend upon your marketing strategies
Reply to this
Indeed a very nice post!.. It made me think too. Thanks a lot! keep posting informative blogs.
Reply to this
Who cares and who doesn't it doesn't even matter. The thing which matters is that how you utilize it and get maximum out of it.
Reply to this
Very well said. However, social media has a huge part to play in IM.
Reply to this
IMO Twitter is just a garbage traffic, conversion rate is pretty low.
Reply to this
I dont know how other marketers see it but social networking has played a huge a huge part in Internet marketing.
Reply to this
I do believe that social media is very effective juts the fact that tactics for every company is not the same, Which many IM forget.
Reply to this
Close followers, late follower and Pioneers are types of innovation strategies.
Reply to this
Thanks for taking the time to post such a detailed and informative article. It has given me a lot of inspiration.
Reply to this
Thats really very nice blog, I am impressed.
Reply to this
fostering member-to-member collaboration, while Pages remain the best way to broadcast messages to your fans if you are a business, organization, public figure or other entity
Reply to this
Wow! very nice information, i found here the article is very useful, and it is helpful site for all. Thanks for sharing with us.
Reply to this
I also suggest that you be as transparent as possible and offer information such as contact information, website, phone number and location. This allows group members to associate the group to an actual person rather than any old computer generated content.
Reply to this
Seo Webnuts is a professional SEO Services company offers internet marketing, search engine optimization, search engine marketing, search engine placement, website marketing, seo services, web optimization, web site promotion, search engine submissions, search engine promotion services from Chandigarh, India.
Reply to this
who doesn't it doesn't even matter. The thing which matters is that how you utilize it and get maximum out of it.
Reply to this
Thanks for such a nice blog post....i was searching for something like that.
Reply to this
Hi,
I like your perception about the marketing through social media.It's the most important and effective medium to expose your product and relate it to the social benefits to the people you have targeted and most importantly it generates the genuine sale of your product because the consumer or the community is know the product and get satisfied by it.......
well thanks for the info!i like it most
HarryDcousta,
SEO Pakistan
SEO Services Pakistan
Reply to this
Really i am impressed from this post....the person who create this post he is a great human..thanks for shared this with us.i found this informative and interesting blog so i think so its very useful and knowledge able.I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article
Reply to this
Well, this is my first visit to your blog! But I admire time and effort you put into it, especially into interesting articles you share here!
Reply to this
Exquisite design, superior material, exquisite craft. ed hardy online store Close to her heart, the most perfect expression of your love.
Reply to this
doesn't it doesn't even matter. The thing which matters is that how you utilize it and get maximum out of it.
Reply to this
Good info thanks for sharing with us. Nice information, valuable and excellent, as share good stuff with good ideas and concepts, lots of great information and inspiration, both of which we all need, thanks for all the enthusiasm to offer such helpful information here. We owns a website called “24x7-LiveSupport.Com” which is a great place for 24x7 Live Chat Support.
Reply to this
dont know how other marketers see it but social networking has played a huge a huge part in Internet marketing.
Reply to this