I’m a social network junkie. I admit it. I love meeting prople. Learning from others. Sharing ideas. Simply listening to what’s happening online.
Many organizations have heard about Facebook, Twitter, My Space, etc. but many still don’t understand it’s power. It’s the way to support, encourage and enable personal recommendations from your existing customers to potential customers, and repeat customers. Let me put it to you this way…. it’s the difference between 17% and 78%. 17% of people trust advertising but 78% trust other consumers recommendations (Nielsen “Trust in Advertising”, October 2007)
Yet, smart marketers and organizations are realizing social media it is revolutionizing the way an organization markets. While many think that social media and social networking is the future, they’re wrong. It’s here today. Do you have a social media strategy? Who is responsible for it? Many large organizations already have V.P.s of Social Media or Network Marketing. It’s that important! Check this out… even Wells Fargo has a VP of Social Network Marketing: Ed Terpening. A BANK gets it. Typically considered a participant in a stodgy industry, Wells Fargo is getting it, doing it, and making things happen in social networks. Which bank do you think will WIN?
Below is an in-your-face slideshow about social media from Marta Kagan. While I feel uncomfortable with unnecessary swearing (thanks to my parents who were both educators and believed that there are better words to express your feelings), I understand they used this technique to get attention. Guess it worked on me and I thought it was well assembled.
What The F**K is Social Media?
Thoughts on how to get started online:
Listening: What are people saying about your company? How do they use your products and services? Are they engaged? Immerse your self in a multitude of places. Learn how to find out how to listen online from an expert (by the way, seaching Google for your brand is not listening)
Immerse yourself in the dialogue: Just chat and respond. Never, and I mean never, push out scripted messages. You need to live your brand… and a brand would never actually go and tell people how awesome they are. They’d be more interested in the people around them. The image SOCIAL>media helps to demonstrate the importance of being simply social. Companies often find this part difficult but it can make or break you.
Give Up Control: You can not control what is being said online. Give it up. Release your baby into the world to grow and flourish on its own. It’s ok. If you’re being transparent and genuine, answer plainly and in a timely fashion and don’t get your back up when you’re criticized… then your brand has the potential to flourish. As it says in the slide show ”
- Jenifer Schaefer
Posted under Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social media, Strategy, Uncategorized
This post was written by admin on September 9, 2008
