marketing

About Us, B2B (Business to Business), B2C (Business to Consumer), Social Media for Business

Tips for the top social media platforms

Social Media IconsWe are often asked to speak at groups and events about social media.  Everyone wants to know how to use social media effectively. 

In some ways, the answer is simple – set up correctly, know and use your keywords and then engage with your audience by posting on your chosen social media platform(s) regularly.

However, the plethora of social media networks can be overwhelming.  If you don’t use them personally it can be very daunting to use an online system that you are not familiar with.  And even if you are a regular personal user of social media, crossing the boundaries into business social communication can be difficult.  Add to this that the news media keep telling us about the negatives of social media and protecting our privacy, it’s no wonder some people struggle.

For a small-medium business owner, there are 3 choices:

… Read More

B2B (Business to Business), B2C (Business to Consumer), Business Blogging, Facebook, Social Media for Business

Know Your Audience

My son, who is 9, is involved a school programme called PrEP – Primary Enterprise Programme – an in-school programme designed to teach year  4 to year 6 children about business.

 

He has been appointed ‘Deputy Advertising Manager’.  I decided to be smart and instill my wisdom upon him.  So I started to say… “now these days advertising is an ‘old’ term and when marketing your products and services you need to be thinking about the internet and social media” (I said with the tone of enthusiasm and hype!).  He smiled at me and said, “Mum, you are just saying that because you are the Soc-al Media Manager but we are just selling to the school kids – the internet is no use to us!”.  Slightly taken aback, I then realised: wow he has grasped the number 1 rule of marketing! – Know Your Audience!  Smart boy!

 

Many people truly get caught up in the hype, or conversely, think only of how they would like to be communicated with, instead of considering their target audience.

 

This is never more true than with marketing your products and services in today’s world.  No longer are we just focused on what television programme or magazine does our target market tune into – we are now surrounded by more and more communication options and some of them are so affordable that it is a marketers dream.  Inbound marketing using blogs, social media, direct marketing and SEO, is now proven to generate more leads at a lower cost than traditional outbound advertising.

It is tempting to set up a profile on Twitter or Facebook or flick out emails to your database and start broadcasting our advertisements to this audience.  Some industries (eg. beauty industry, real estate) are so entrenched in this form of communication – one-way – that they continue to market this way in the social networks, forgetting that Social Media Marketing means being social and engaging with people.   Relationships first, Selling second.

 

Being in love with what you do can sometimes be a handicap and some people feel that they are being dragged into a dream that is not their own.  Some follow theories without understanding the reality of business and life.

Don’t get caught in the hype – stay focused on what is Real and Relevant.  Here are some key points to remember:

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About Us, Business Blogging, Facebook, LinkedIn, Social Media for Business, Twitter, YouTube

Sky News Australia talks Social Media for Small Business

I have just watched a fantastic news clip from Sky News from last Friday (12th Nov), called Technology Behind Business where they interview a panel of Australian Social Media experts.

If you haven’t got 13 mins to watch the interview in full, I have summarised it below.  Some great content, especially how they summarise Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin from a business perspective.  Also, I enjoyed listening to hear the Aussie accent for a change  :)

Summary:

It starts off introducing the topic by saying that

SME’s (small to medium sized businesses) view Social Media as the “unknown” with more than 50% currently shying away from it …… Read More

About Us, Social Media for Business

What IS Social Media Marketing and How can it Benefit your Business?

Over the last 3 months I have immersed myself in the online industry and world of social media.  Because of all this learning, training, listening and participating in this field, along with my natural social tendencies, I do admit to forgetting that in fact, some people do not know what this term “Social Media” is !

You may have an idea that it’s something to do with Facebook and Twitter, but what does that mean to you? And if you are not one of the 500 million people on Facebook then you may be even more perplexed.

I have explained on a separate Page on my website, what I believe is a good summary of what Social Media means.  Have a read.

Then, consider this:

We no longer search for the news, the news finds us…

We will no longer search for products and services, they will find us via social media

I have talked further in my next blog post about the Impact of Social Media and the way its changing the face of marketing and communication.

If all businesses are in social media networks, and people no longer have to look for their products and services, your competition is even stronger…. Read More

Just for Fun, Social Media for Business, YouTube

Flashmob Marketing

After watching Jamie’s Oliver’s Food Revolution the other night and seeing the Flash Mob he organised, I searched on the web to find out more about this “Flashmob” marketing technique and what it’s all about.

A Flash Mob is a true example of interactive marketing.  It’s where marketers create a really unusual experience in a really normal place, usually involving music and dance.

Obviously not the stuff of small-business marketing, but fun to watch: the power of the interaction of people and the ongoing “viral marketing” using YouTube.

This one happened just a couple of weeks ago at Heathrow Airport – it involved 500 people and was the basis of an advertisement for T-Mobile – what a great welcome home for some unsuspecting passengers!

Last year, T-Mobile also did something similar (but a bit more staged) in Trafalgar Square  which involved 13,500 people (I love the song, and the memories of London!)… Read More