Get Involved in Social Media Marketing Before You Need It

Most online marketing campaign strategies such as SEO and PPC, and especially email marketing, are utilized at specific points in time for specific purposes, and often have measurable results with a relatively short period of time.

Social media, on the other hand, is a very different beast, which is why many are still wary of it or unable to understand how it might be beneficial. Additionally, the ROI may be somewhat difficult to determine for quite some time. However, if done effectively, social media marketing has the potential to be an extremely powerful online marketing tool.

The trick is investing in social media before it may be absolutely necessary to do so. Creating profiles on various social media sites and taking the time to build a following will ensure that you have a captive target market when you are in fact ready to promote or market something specific.

Posting press releases or promotional messages will garner little results if you don't already have a strong following. Begin by posting informative or entertaining content that your target market will find interesting. Do so on a consistent basis, and soon you'll find that your followers will grow on a continual basis as your content is shared. Then, you'll be able to recognize a huge ROI as you command a much larger and influential reach amongst various social media communities.

Is Your Social Media Marketing Campaign Illegal?

It was reported a few days ago that the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK is gearing up to crack down on social media marketing campaigns that do not adhere to a set of guidelines.

Beginning March 1, 2011, the ASA will attempt to effectively police all social media marketing on major networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Marketers utilizing these networks for unpaid advertising and promotion may be found in violation of the code of standards involving misleading advertisements and social responsibility.

Business that are found to be in non-compliance may have their ads forcibly removed. According to IFA Life founder Philip Calvert, social media sites should be used strictly for networking, not marketing, as using it for marketing is a waste of time. He states that, “IFAs should use social media to network, listen to consumers, add value, share news and expertise and to build a digital reputation.”

Obviously, the numerous studies touting the effectiveness of marketing and advertising on these sites have escaped his attention. Should we in the United States be wary of some sort of similar action in the future? Will our own social media marketing campaigns fall victim to such a ruling?

And what would such a ruling mean for individuals who use the networks for both networking and promoting their own products or services, such as a book they've written or jewelry they've made? Will they receive warning notices as well?

The whole concept seems ridiculously absurd and extremely difficult to enforce with any degree of fairness and efficiency. What do you think?

B2B Facebook Marketing Tips

There should no longer be any doubt that Facebook is a viable B2B marketing tool. While other social networks such as Linked:In and Twitter have their own advantages for B2B online marketing, Facebook should not be discounted simply because it appears to focus more on social friendship rather than social business.

Several studies have already proven that the social media platform is more than adequate for marketing to a business audience and networking with other professionals. However, there are three keys to successful B2B Facebook marketing that you'll need to follow in order to maximize the effectiveness of your Facebook B2B marketing campaign.

1. Content is Key

It applies to your corporate website, and it applies to your Facebook page as well. The consistent creation of specialized, unique, informative content is necessary in order to engage and attract the interest of other businesses and professionals on Facebook. Establishing yourself as an expert is critical, and reinforcing that perception is an effort not to be taken lightly or dismissed.

2. Optimization is Beneficial

Just Google and other major search engines utilize SEO as part of their algorithms in determining the placement of websites in search engine results, SEO can also benefit your Facebook page. Optimizing your content for search engines will help other businesses locate your Facebook page both through organic searches and also within Facebook.

You can utilize Facebook to more efficiently target specific audiences and businesses with rich keyword content in your company profile and in the content you add to the page. Determine what other businesses might use as their search terms when seeking the services or products you provide.

3. Interaction is Necessary

It isn't called "social" without a good reason. Users enjoy Facebook for its social networking capabilities, and B2B marketing on Facebook allows for tremendous networking capability. Direct messages of special news, events, press releases, videos, etc. can be sent directly to your followers within seconds, and your page can be updated continuously and effortlessly.

You'll be able to engage and interact with other professionals quickly, further instilling brand recognition and showcasing your commitment to professionalism and customer service.

For more information about B2B Facebook marketing and how to optimize your Facebook page to fully harness the powerful marketing capabilities of the social networking site, contact Active Web Group, Long Island's premier web marketing agency.

Monday Morning Online Marketing News Wrap-Up

An interesting batch of articles today concerning online marketing methods Visa, the future impact of Web 3.0 (are we already done with Web 2.0? That was fast!), and how social networking is ever-growing, ever-changing.

What is Web 3.0 and how will it impact PR?

A video and summation of Web 3.0 and it's possible future effects on social marketing and PR

Visa launches a marketing push for online shopping service Rightcliq
The leading credit card brand launches today a major marketing push for its Rightcliq online shopping service. It’s an online wallet combined with merchant discounts, all wrapped up with social networking features.

Take Advantage of Increased Time Spent Social Networking

A new Nielsen study titled "What Americans Do Online" shows that Americans spend a growing percentage of their time online visiting social networking sites. Businesses need to be aware of trends like this in order to focus marketing efforts where the target audience spends its time.

Social Media vs. Email Marketing - Don't Forsake One for the Other

The ever-rising popularity and evolution of social media has shifted the focus away from other traditional forms of online marketing, such as email marketing and SEO. While social media marketing is certainly a viable, proven method, studies show that most forms of online marketing work best when used in conjunction with one another, as opposed to relying on a single method.

Additionally, while utilizing social media powerhouse sites such as Facebook, Linked:In and Twitter can cost you virtually nothing if the marketing is handled in-house, a large amount of time must be devoted to each site if the marketing is going to be effective. Producing engaging, interesting and informative content for each site is also necessary, along with time to engage with consumers or network with other peers.

Recent studies show that email marketing currently remains the most cost-efficient method of online marketing, with the highest ROI. A report by Direct News stated that "almost four in ten shoppers said they had been prompted to make an online purchase as a result of email marketing," and also that "more could be done by firms to improve their email marketing strategy, as 50 per cent of consumers said emails were devalued by irrelevant information and a similar proportion claimed messages hold no value because they did not have a special advantage by receiving them."

For a Free Email Marketing Analysis, Contact Active Web Group.

You might also be interested in reading "Five Reasons Why Your Email Marketing Isn't Working" and "The Importance of Social Media for Your Business."

Detailed Map of the Social Media Universe Created

With all the new social media sites and tools popping up every day, it can be difficult to determine which sites might be worthy of your attention and which ones are just a quickly-passing fad, soon to be lost in the nether-regions of cyberspace. The map of the social media universe is an ever-changing entity, but that didn't stop Overdrive Interactive from creating one.

While the map be be outdated within a number of weeks, it's still a valuable resource and a good way to showcase exactly what types of social media sites are out there and which ones might work best for your business.

Click the image to enlarge it.

The Importance of Social Media for Your Business

The first and most important aspect of social media that should be quickly recognized by anyone wishing to delve into the realm is that it is "social". Interaction is key to a successful social media marketing campaign. Those who fail to realize that will likely have very little response to their efforts, and may also probably give up on social media platforms altogether, believing them to be a waste of time.

Doing so would be a terrible disservice, as social media is quickly incorporating itself into the daily lives of millions – prime target marketing for those who better understand how to use the marketing capabilities of social media effectively.

Currently, three social media platforms dominate the Internet: Twitter, Facebook, and Linked:In. Each serves its own specific purpose, but all three are also able to work in conjunction with one another. From a marketing standpoint, a company that can harness the power of all three can become a marketing powerhouse.

You can learn more about each social media platform in the article "Social Networking: What Is It, and Why Your Company Should Use It."

In addition to the information found within that article, following are three key components of social media marketing, each one specific to a particular platform, that will help marketers gain an inside edge.

Marketing with Twitter

Your first instinct might be to amass as many followers as you can. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but your efforts might be better rewarded by focusing on attracting targeted followers who would be most interested in your "Tweets" and with whom you can interact, thus increasing brand recognition. This will also help you acquire free marketing when your followers "retweet" your tweets to their own followers.

Follow us on Twitter! >>

Marketing with Facebook

Pretty much the same concept as Twitter, except followers are referred to as fans. It is better to have a group of fans that you can engage with on a consistent basis than a large number of fans that never really look at your page to see what's new or don't respond to informative messages.

Be a Fan of AWG on Facebook >>

Marketing with Linked:In

Again, somewhat the same concept, except the connections you make here matter highly if you’re a B2B company. You'll want to seek recommendations from some of those connections: perhaps from satisfied clients. Recommendations on Linked:In work in essence as customer testimonials, and are highly visible by anyone that may view your profile.

Join our network on LinkedIn >>