Tag: social media - Page 18

A company has a problem. They don't like their accountant. Their financial planner just got hit by a bus. The business just got a lot bigger and now they need some HR advice. They don't have a marketing person per se and the owner knows that they are not going anywhere without someone focusing on the company's brand and lead generation campaigns to support their sales team.

The problem has been identified. It now needs a solution. So, what's next? They look for one.

How?

First, they think about who they know. It use to be a case of people they have met or friends of friends, but now there is a not so new revolution to add to the equation. Social media.

Social Media

In the past two weeks we have made almost $200,000 from our social media accounts. It's because companies that we may not have met face to face, but know us through social media and in particular, twitter, linkedin and the company blog, have a problem and the first person they have made contact with is the person they "know" online. You know the one. The person that continually reinforces their expertise in a particular field through showcasing their knowledge, case studies, influence and opinions.

Social media is likened to the old-fashion term "farming" because it takes time, but the investment is worth it in the end if you do all the right things. Farming makes it easier for clients to find you and relate to you and your business. Social media has provided a short-cut in the farming process  but be assured that "farming" is not "prospecting". It is relationship building and you have to be willing to give more than you get.

So, remember next time you go to write on your twitter account that you went out and got totally trashed, but the next day want to be the consumate professional accountant who is looking for new business opportunities that your lifestyle choices may not be what your clients are looking for in a service provider.

Retailers that have not adopted a strategic social media strategy that has as much weighing in their marketing budget as their traditional media spend, are at risk of not only losing marketshare but also staying alive as a business.

Retailers were slower to discover the benefits of using bloggers and affiliate sites to reach their target audience, but those who have taken seriously the trend that has absorbed the world in the past five years of social media engagement are seeing a lower cost marketing platform that is complemented by a more loyal and trusted customer base.

Smirking to myself, I typed onto twitter a response to a girlfriends tweet about whether or not I would be going on extended travel after a business conference in Instanbul, Turkey.

In no time, I responded. "Depends on whether I am married and have other plans" or something to this effect.

With more than 500 friends on facebook, I have always been reluctant to share anything to do with work with my friends.

As many of you know, I write a blog most days which is receives thousands of visitors around the globe, many loyal enough to read my blog within minutes of it being posted.

Where is everyone?

It appears that I may have been a bit off the mark in a previous article. I claimed that Google Plus’ entry into online social media would spell the sudden demise of Facebook. At this point in time that appears to be false. It has become apparent that social media supremacy will come after a long struggle rather than the quick and clean coup reminiscent of the Facebook takeover of MySpace that I predicted.

Today I had a meeting with mobile marketing guru Dipen Patel from an innovative bluetooth and wifi mobile marketing company, SpidaNet.

Being an avid adopter of new technologies and in particular integrated marketing campaigns, I can assure you, I held on to his every word.

If you thought it was easier to use social media than to write a blog, then consider this. 53.5 percent of internet users will read blogs this year, whilst our social network counterparts are on a declining scale.

P.S. If you like this marketing blog, then please feel free to share it on whatever social network medium you see fit. We love facebook, twitter and linkedin!

In the last month, I noticed another not-for-profit that I have been very familiar with over the years finally get online and join the ranks of facebook and twitter.

Not-for-profits in 95 percent of cases are for very good causes and definately whether they make a profit or not, have their hearts in the right place.

It takes a brave person, to throw something away and replace it with something new. Look at your cupboards at home. When was the last time you threw out your favourite jumper, even though it has holes in it?

Sometimes a website can be a bit like that. You get used to seeing it. It brings you in a number of inquiries. Search engine optimisation looks pretty good compared to most of your competitors. So, what makes you throw it all away?

It’s only February 8th and I am already hearing companies say how busy they are. So busy in fact, that they don’t have time to do marketing.