Before you dive in and put all marketing efforts into Social Media Marketing this year, first you’ll need to understand what Social Media Marketing is. It is a form of internet marketing that combines various social networks to achieve branding goals and marketing communications. With social marketing you can share text-based-content, videos, and of course, pictures. I advise to use it is part of the overall marketing strategy — in conjunction with traditional marketing.
Social Media Marketing is very good at — excellent even! — building website traffic, buzz (conversation), brand awareness, brand identity and/or positive brand association, and communication with target markets.
Stay on track when using Social Media. Your Social Media Marketing strategy should be highly reflective of your other marketing campaigns (print campaigns, television, etc.). Before you post anything anywhere, make a plan, and build content that will interest your target market. Make sure the information you are offering is of value and your customer will find it interesting. In addition to text-based content, include images, videos etc. That said, it should play “tag-team” with what is happening in the “real-world” and it should remain flexible. If something happens in the world — the content on your Social Media platform should be reflective and immediate. It should be socially aware. Be prepare to be responsive and proactive.
Your brand is building an image and today Social Media Market is the number one tool or brand building — so use it as such. Respect the tool. Be mindful of what you post. Be consistent with your brand message. While each social media platform has its own personality your brand must stay consistent in its core message. Blogging allows to you speak more directly to your target market. On the Blog you are able to discuss recent social media, have contests and events and show more company personality.
Social Media Marketing naturally leads you to link to outside articles that provide valuable information to your target market. You can also begin to Content Market with other companies that share the target market as you. Content Marketing (see content marketing post 12/04/12) will greatly expand your company.
All of the Social Media Marketing you do is not worth anything until you start to track it and can understand who is responding to it. You’ll need to be able to measure what is working and what is not. Simply watching your comment board is not enough. There are some very good social media analytic tools available. Use them!