The world of social media can seem very overwhelming, especially for managers and business owners who may have heard of Facebook and blogs but have never participated in them and don’t really know how they work or, more importantly, its value within marketing. mixture.
So when Richard MacManus, founder of ReadWriteWeb, a blog that provides web technology news, reviews, and analysis and has an RSS and email subscriber following of approximately 275,000, made his 2009 Web Predictions, it came as no surprise that many. of them will involve social networks. . Some of their predictions included iTunes adding social media features, Facebook subscribing to OpenSocial, introducing apps that have plugins for Twitter and Facebook, and media outlets experimenting with different types of online advertising (with their own social media such as? time?)
So you know you need to add social media and social media to your marketing mix for 2009, but how do you get started? Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Digg, Twitter, Ning – the list of sites is endless. But which ones are right for you? It all depends on which ones are right for your client.
So many options, so little time.
Like any other marketing promotion, your social media program needs a strategy that includes measuring your ROI. Many people are getting more involved in blogs and social networking sites simply because they have heard of them, like Facebook and MySpace. Instead, you need to think about what you want to achieve here. Looking to connect with existing customers? Want to find quality, qualified leads? Do you expect your current customers to open the door of social media to new opportunities? Will you interact and engage with your customers online or will you just post ideas and thoughts? Do you hope to collect new ideas from your social network or are you expected to be the group of experts of the group? Once you have determined the reasons why you want to incorporate social media into your marketing plans, the next step is to join some.
Creating your profile.
Clicking on a site like Facebook or LinkedIn can be a bit intimidating at first. You have no “connections” (people who view your profile or whom you have found to connect with), your profile is empty, and you wonder why someone would want to connect with you online. Take some time to review the profile section of the site.
Remember, think about who you want to connect and network with. Then tailor your profile so that your desired customers can find you. Do you want to interact with groups looking for innovative technology? Will you be the leader of a group offering tips and strategies for the latest in CRM technology? What makes you a Super VAR? By reading your profile, a potential customer or new customer will know right away based on what you write.
Making the connections.
Now is the time to start looking for people you know on the web. This will give you the opportunity to explore the site with people you know and trust. Allow yourself to get comfortable with the way the social part of the network works. Remember, everyone was a rookie at one time, so make connections with those who can help you in the beginning. LinkedIn is a site geared towards making business connections. Twitter allows you to follow someone or be followed. Facebook and MySpace offer community settings. You will be surprised how many people you will find who are interested in the same things as you. Look for like-minded and minded people.
Just like at a 4th of July party or picnic, you’ll start chatting with someone and who knows where the conversation will go. Social media is simply an amazing marketing tool for nurturing current customer relationships and finding new ones. Who are you linked to?