Saying It Social

What AK Knows About Social Media Marketing

I am by no means a self-proclaimed social media marketing expert, however I have learned a great deal by doing and analyzing, and would like to take this opportunity to share a little bit with you.

This list is in no particular order because I think each point is as valuable as the next.

1. A social media marketing campaign does not produce results over night.

It can take as long as 3-6 months before you can start seeing results. A social media marketing program takes time to establish but if maintained properly can have very great long-term effects.

2. A cookie-cutter approach to social media marketing will not work.

At the beginning of a social media marketing program, as well as throughout, it is essential that your business is treated as an entity unlike any other. You need a program tailored specifically to your service/product offering in your location.

3. A social media marketing campaign requires constant maintenance, it is not a “set-and-forget” type operation.

In order to achieve the long-term affects that you hope for when implementing a social media marketing program, you must be continually providing fresh content, researching the latest social media trends, and re-evaluating your strategy so that your efforts do not become out-dated and quite frankly “out-useful.”

4. Social media marketing requires listening.

One of the most powerful benefits of social media marketing is the ability for the company and the consumer to be able to engage in a TWO-WAY conversation in real-time. This means that the company needs to be listening and not just broadcasting. You have the opportunity to actually hear what your prospects want/need – do not let this precious gift given to you by social networks go wasted! Do not ignore what is right in front of you because you are too busy posting to listen and respond!

5. ROI from a social media marketing campaign can not be specifically determined at the start of a program.

Be leery of a company that boasts of an ROI of $X, or an X% increase in sales. The fact of the matter is that there are too many variables that come into play when you implement a social media marketing program. Ideally you will have increased traffic to your website, but you also want to utilize that two-way conversation to build relationships and establish rapport with consumers who may not need your product/services right now but will certainly remember you because of your interactions when the time is right.

6. A social media marketing campaign is about being transparent.

We’ve all heard the privacy concerns across social media sites, but when it comes to your business you want to be “out there”, baring it all. A key component to gaining a client or a customer is first gaining their trust. By being as transparent as possible, meaning, sharing stories about your business, introducing your employees, posting photos of your business in action etc, etc… this will make you feel more “real” in the eyes of your prospects, it will evoke emotions that will ultimately lead to this trust you need them to have in you. Do not be afraid!

Stay tuned…. more to come!

February 17, 2010 - Posted by AK Stout | Uncategorized | social media marketing, social media marketing for business