| Millions of consumers converse on a daily basis in | | | | get what you ask for! Digital media is known as |
| online communities, discussion forums, blogs and social | | | | digitized content (text, graphics, audio and video) that |
| networks. They turn to the Internet to share opinions, | | | | can be transmitted over the Internet. |
| advice, grievances and recommendations. Are you | | | | By engaging your customer, you can clearly define |
| listening, connecting and responding in a way that | | | | your audience and determine the best way to engage |
| protects and promotes your brand? | | | | that audience (both traditionally and digitally). First, |
| Find out how consumers feel about your brand, | | | | examine your budget and deliverables and set goals |
| product or service-in their words. Listening to our | | | | with measurable expectations. Engage your consumer |
| consumers is most critical at a time when there is so | | | | in conversation and always market in a way that truly |
| much to offer on the Internet. It has been said that | | | | connects your consumer and answers any questions |
| traditional media is losing its face value and that the | | | | they may have about your product or service. Use |
| Internet is a fad and digital only applies to the millennium | | | | traditional and digital media to reach your mass |
| generation. While that may seem true, if you want to | | | | targeted audience and invite them to be engaged via |
| stay on the innovative cusp for your business, use | | | | the web. Leverage the web to start conversations. |
| both traditional and internet media marketing and here | | | | This is where you can lose or gain the attention of |
| are some reasons why.o Online conversations can | | | | your audience if done correctly. Engage the viewer for |
| power or deflate a company's brand. Do you have a | | | | lead generation. |
| presence?o Discover specific issues that are being | | | | Another form to connect with your audience is social |
| discussed around your company, brand or organization | | | | media. I have found social media to be very beneficial |
| andcreate feedback to these issues.o There may be | | | | both personally and professionally. |
| events, trends and issues that may be influencing | | | | The wave of social media enables a person to |
| industry and brand buzz.o Measure how your online | | | | establish rapport with identified customers. Social |
| and offline marketing campaigns resonate with | | | | Media is a marketing tool designed to establish a |
| consumers.o Leverage word-of-mouth to drive brand | | | | presence and relationship with targeted prospects. |
| credibility, and ultimately sales if you use face-to-face | | | | Blogging can be an important part of Internet Marketing |
| marketing, Internet Marketing, Search Engine | | | | Strategy with fresh, targeted content that attracts |
| Optimization Strategy, and Social Media Strategy | | | | inbound links and builds a relationship with prospects, |
| correctly. | | | | but most importantly makes you the perceived expert. |
| According to Nielson research, TV users watch more | | | | We discussed the different Social Media sites and |
| than ever before (an average of 127 hrs, 15 min per | | | | some of the most popular social media areas to get |
| month) and these users are spending 9% more time | | | | into. |
| using the Internet (26 hrs, 26 min per month) from last | | | | How are you connecting with your target audience? Is |
| year. Approximately 220 million Americans have | | | | your client under the age of 35 and needing more |
| Internet access at home and/or work with a growing | | | | from you than just a phone call or face to face |
| number using the Internet for research and social | | | | meetings? How do you know when and how to |
| media. | | | | market to your target audience? Wow, there is so |
| Knowing this research, traditional media entertains and | | | | much more to learn in the wave of social media and it |
| communicates to a mass audience whereas digital | | | | sure is fun and exciting! However, if you are not doing |
| media entertains, communicates with, and engages the | | | | this, I predict you will be left behind in the future. Be |
| individual. The benefits of digital media can be highly | | | | innovative, yet traditional at the same time. Identify the |
| measurable and marketers can often see a direct | | | | best way to communicate with your target audience |
| effect in the form of improved sales in addition to | | | | and diversify your methods of marketing. It is no longer |
| establishing a direct link with the consumer. This can | | | | a business world where your name stands alone. |
| also be cost effective. However, the pitfalls of digital | | | | Branding is much more difficult in today's society with |
| marketing can be that the medium is new, constantly | | | | the Internet and so many competitors. |
| changing and evolving with results that vary. You often | | | | |