Should you be using Social Media Marketing?
Yes, absolutely yes. Social media marketing has evolved from it's days as a simple time-waster for unproductive coworkers, and teens avoiding homework. In addition to these social media vets, productive members of society are now finally getting involved, and they are loving it. Your business should be embracing this.
I may be bias. I run a social media marketing firm ( http://www.FastWebStrategies.com ) based here in lovely Seattle, WA (However, we do serve all English speaking clients around the world). But, I got into this industry by accident.
I had been a partner in a SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
My first introduction to Social Media Marketing was not pleasant. I was going to one of my largest clients (the kind of client you pop champagne after every check is cashed), and they told me "Sorry Chris, we've gone a new direction." I said why? Is it the money? I'm sure I can get you a discount. They told me, "No." The fact is, what I had been doing was fine. I got them to one of the top spots in a very tough keyword. However, one of their interns had created a Myspace account only a few months before.
This was the site above their main site.
I had been beaten out by an intern? I knew social media marketing was going to be important, but it had yet to show any monetary value. The fact was, only kids with no credit cards seemed to use these services. That's not a market most of my clients wanted.
I spent the next few months researching social media marketing. I even talked to my mom (who had joined a similar site to Myspace and was connecting with old and new friends). Here's what I came up with:
#1 - Everyone uses them
All demographics use social media sites. In fact, one of the largest growing segment in social media is baby boomers. I know most company's markets are the baby boomers, because of their disposable income. Gone are the days where the 50+ are afraid of the Internet.
#2 - It's free.
Ok, I say this in a way not to act like it's "easy." It can be free if you really want to spend the time, but really, to enjoy the benefits of social media marketing, you have to outsource it. But, as far as the actual sites, absolutely free.
#3 - Connect With The New And The Old.
Social Media Marketing does something that we as marketers had absolutely prayed for. We have a place where current, happy customers, can show their appreciation right in front of potential customers. And, potential customers have a place to come and really see what your business is about. For most company's that is a great thought, considering the pride you put into your product or service.
#4 - Personalization On An Impersonal Format.
As much as we think the Internet has "connected" us, really it's one of the most impersonal, and also informal ways of communication. Sending an email or writing a "white paper" is liking reading a poorly written book while staring into a lamp. With social media marketing, you can put your face right on the profile, put your actual name (or have a representative)
#5 - Referrals Made Easy.
Kind of an addition to #2, but I want to make a point. You know how easy a referral is nowadays? Your happy customer simply clicks one button, or types a sentence, or a simple copy and paste. In fact you may get referrals from people who have never used your service, just because you have a "cool" site, service or product, or you just seemed like a nice guy.
#6 - They Get Traffic.
An intelligently promoted social media site will garner a lot of in-site traffic. This means more clicks to your website, for nothing.
#7 - They Rank Well.
I don't know how many times I have been searching for something and I see a Twitter account or wordpress or livejournal. With an effective article, you can get these sites ranked easily.
#8 - High Page Rank Backlinks.
If this is the only reason you do social media marketing, I don't care, it's a must. These sites have so many positives. High PR backlinks are what gets you ranked on the first page of Google.
Finally, #9 - Dominate Your Keywords
This is the most important reason why I got into social media marketing. Now, I don't just offer customers a chance to be ranked on the first page, I give them the option dominate the results. For just about any keyword phrase, using social media marketing, you can be the top results, the bottom results and everything in between.
What else could you ask for? Imagine you have a giant results eraser. Search any keyword term, and now imagine that you can simply erase all of your competitors. Most of them are not doing social media marketing, so they have no chance of surviving.
So. How do you start social media marketing? You can either find the sites, create accounts, post unique information OR you can hire a company like mine, who will create these sites for you, distribute content to them and help you begin building your domination campaign.
Plus, you can get started for under $150.
Visit our site at http://www.FastWebStrategies.com
Thanks,
Chris Aplin
coFounder FastWebStrategies.com
