| If you are considering social media marketing for your | | | | people don't feel they're being given a hard sell. |
| business, remember to emphasize the "social" more so | | | | Use notes to tell people about upcoming trade shows |
| than the "marketing." | | | | or conferences you will be attending. Use the mini-feed |
| Why? Because social media users seek genuine | | | | to keep people connected to your blog. You can talk |
| communication, not marketing spin. Nowhere is that | | | | about new and exciting things in your company, |
| more apparent than on social networking sites like | | | | without sounding like you're selling. |
| Facebook. To make the most out of your efforts to | | | | Keep it interesting with photos and video clips. Not only |
| market with social media, you'd do well to get some | | | | will you promote your company, you will give your |
| advice from a marketing firm or, at the very least, read | | | | business real personality, and allow visitors to see the |
| a few tips on how to use these sites. | | | | people behind the company name. |
| Using Facebook and Other Social Networking Sites for | | | | Create a group if you really want to personalize your |
| Marketing | | | | contact with users. People join groups with specific |
| According to O'Reilly Media, Facebook demographics | | | | interests, and moderating a group can help you reach |
| have shifted. Once thought of as an online hangout for | | | | a specific audience. Keep in mind that the group is an |
| high school kids and university students, it is now | | | | entity unto itself, and not a page about your business |
| increasingly the networking site of choice for older | | | | so it needs to be handled accordingly. Messages sent |
| groups. | | | | to the group are delivered directly to member's |
| In January, 2009, O'Reilly released its 2009 Facebook | | | | Inboxes, so ensure that what you are sharing is of real |
| Demographics and Statistics report. The fastest | | | | value to people. |
| growing demographic on Facebook is users aged 35 | | | | Keeping Up with Social Media Marketing |
| to 54. The growth in this demographic is off the charts | | | | Herein lies the real challenge with social media |
| - 276% in the last 6 months of 2008. | | | | marketing - upkeep. You cannot let your page get |
| Users aged 55 and over are also discovering | | | | stale. But between writing blog posts, moderating a |
| Facebook. This demographic jumped by 194% in the | | | | group, managing RSS feeds and just keeping up with |
| same time period. The younger crowd is still there | | | | the communication you generate, social media |
| though. The number of 25 to 34-year-olds using | | | | marketing can be very labour-intensive. |
| Facebook doubles about every six months. | | | | If you need help planning or managing your social |
| Clearly, there are abundant marketing opportunities | | | | media marketing strategy, a training course or online |
| here. But you need to know how to approach your | | | | marketing consultant can help. |
| audience right. | | | | And remember, you only have one chance to make a |
| Social Media Marketing is All About the Soft Sell | | | | good first impression. If you don't handle your social |
| To start marketing on Facebook, create page for your | | | | media marketing right from the beginning, you could |
| business. Once you have established this page, you | | | | end up doing more harm than good. Take the time to |
| can build a list of fans. Fans can follow your business | | | | learn how to do it right, so you can reap the benefits |
| and receive updates whenever you add something to | | | | for a long time to come. |
| your page. The key is to add information of value so | | | | |