Social Media Marketing

Could we meet here?

Isn’t it easier and almost always nicer if you host a meeting or have friends round to yours? Unless of course your place is a mess or they come with dirty shoes. It’s the same for your audience – if you go to them online, where they are, they’ll appreciate it. But just like in the physical world you need to follow the right etiquette for each site and community, to ensure you are a good guest and don’t outstay your welcome.

2,000 years of Facebook

Our technology changes, but we humans are always sociable. Even 2,000 years ago every Roman centre had a Forum, a gathering place of social significance, for political debate, meetings, networking and a general chit chat. Today it isn’t as simple as meeting your audience in person by the Temple of Caesar, but you’ll find a high proportion of them using Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Twitter, Windows Live, Habbo, Orkut, etc. . . .

15 minutes of fame

Warhol was so right and so wrong. You can easily get more than 15 minutes of ‘fame’ online. Some folk share so many photos, videos, blog posts and tweets they probably end up ‘broadcasting’ more a week than Chris Evans. And so can you. Content sharing sites like YouTube, Metacafe, Vimeo, Flickr, Photobucket, WordPress, blinkx, blip.tv, etc. . . . can deliver content much closer to your audience.

Giving it a measurable try

With social media, one size never fits all. With our knowledge of the medium we can advise how, and if, social media could be used as part of your marketing communications mix. We can set out a strategy, deliver concepts and creative to fit the medium and if required manage the campaign and create content on an ongoing basis. We’ll also ensure we set in place ways to measure this activity to ensure you can evaluate the return on investment.

Your customer is always mostly right

This is the important bit. And probably the scary part. All of these social media and content sharing sites will allow un-moderated interaction with your audience. If you aren’t prepared to stimulate and join the discussion, and commit time and resources for the long term, then social media isn’t going to work for you. But if you are prepared to get involved, you’ll gain valuable audience feedback as insightful as formal research.

Dell, the computer giant, were quick to use social media effectively. Customer service staff tracked all tweets and responded offering support for all negative comments. Marketing used Twitter to broadcast special offers and new product launches generating $6.5 million in 2009.

Questions?

To discuss how social media could be better used as part of your marketing communications, call Iain on 0131 625 5500.