MARKETING
TIP #100
Brands Going Social...
I just read in Website Magazine about how the new media is all about socialization and participation. This was about the twentieth one on this topic this week. It seems you can’t pick up a magazine, newspaper or visit the web without seeing something about it. Some of you may be wondering what it’s all about.
Social media allows you to make news, photos, conversations, videos and podcasts available to the public by posting on social media websites such as Digg, Wikipedia or Flickr.
Getting involved with social websites is a great way to have direct contact with your customers and people who are interested in your industry. People who take the time to join a social website are passionate about that particular topic. They are the people you want to get to know. Social websites are popping up all the time for a variety of subjects, such as corkd.com for wine lovers.
Getting involved in the discussion - and staying involved - can make a big difference for any size business or brand. It allows you to interact with people who are interested in your industry or product. However, they will be brutally honest. If you participate as a person who is passionate about the industry and an authority on the subject, you can gain respect in the community. Participating for marketing purposes only could be detrimental. Remember, people on social networks do not want a sales pitch and they will let you know that.
Not a problem though. As business people we know that being thought of as the go-to-guy or authority on a subject or product is one of the best ways to drive potential clients to the doorstep and to keep them there.
The benefits of being involved in social media are real and the effort is minimal. Facebook profiles can be created in minutes, signing on to Digg takes less than one minute and creating videos for the web has never been easier. Setting up your account is as easy as creating a username and password, then entering minimal personal information to let the group know who you are. The hardest part is actually participating. Anyone can set up a profile, but it will languish with no page views if the content is not updated regularly. Blogs and social media sites are very search engine friendly and are usually indexed on a daily basis, so updating regularly makes your posts more easily discoverable.
When you do decide to start using social media, plan on dedicating a minimum of an hour a week. If you plan on starting a blog and building your own community, expect to spend several hours a week writing blog entries, answering questions and comments as it grows. At this point, you may want to consider enlisting other colleagues to help.
There is no shortage of social sites to start with. Here’s a list of a few of the more popular sites worth checking out:
del.icio.us: This social bookmarking website lets users discover, store and share popular information.
youtube.com: The leading online video website.
flickr.com: The leading online photo management and sharing application; it has a robust online community.
digg.com: A user generated news site, featuring stories on technology, politics, sports, general news, and others. Users “digg” stories they like, with intentions of getting them on the front page of the site.
reddit.com: An up-and-coming Digg competitor. Read, vote and explore submitted content or share your own.
facebook.com: Similar to MySpace, but more powerful and attractive. Popular mainly with the college-age demographic, but some believe it has a roll in making business connections.
newsvine.com: Increasingly popular site where users write the news, read, discuss and interact with others in the community.
twitter.com: One of the hottest up-and-coming sites allowing users to send short updates or “tweets” using only 140 characters. Updates are sent instantly to those who have signed up.
Reaching out to prospects has suddenly become faster and more efficient through these channels. You should be taking advantage of them. Chances are your competitors are. We can develop a social marketing strategy that will increase your brand’s recognition and position. Email Bowen Smith, or call 717-392-6982, to discuss how social media complements your overall brand strategy.
Talk to you later,
Adam Chlan
Social Media Expert Extraordinaire
P.S. Check out how Furmano’s is using their Tomato Tour video, you can view it on their website or on Google Video.