Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Social Media Tips
OK, I admit it - I am NOT an expert on this stuff...but, hey, I'm in the game and I am learning! I have uncovered some compelling reasons to use social media in your marketing mix and a few sensible rules of engagement...
Why incorporate SMM into your marketing mix? Well, as opposed to advertising- SMM is free. It's also credible - peers advising peers.
My role, what I do and what I love to do is promote my client's events, services, products and brand through any and every avenue possible. I have fun doing this because the world of social media allows me to engage with and follow folks who have the same interests and want to hear what I have to say - and vice versa. What you can do with SMM is this; build a community. Engage with your customers, partners, prospects and peers. Have a voice. Listen and learn from others. Use social media tools to help build your brand.
Tips I have found on colleagues blogs and tweets:
1. Know why you’re using a service.
I use Twitter (http://twitter.com/dvendley) to access relevant links to useful knowledge and influential people in my idustry and to reach and develop mutually beneficial relationships with others. Linkedin provides me the ability to tap on or grow the collective knowledge and expertise in my network. This is assuming I've linked up to people I know or trust to be reliable, of course (I have). Then, even if my immediate contact does not know the answer, their contacts down the trust chain may or can refer to people who can help me. Facebook has proven valuable both personally and professionally. I have created groups and connected with long forgeotten colleagues and aquaintances who are now valuable resources, prospects and who can link me into their networks..
2. Know what your followers or friends want - provide value.
Understand what your friends, family, colleagues and customers wnat and give it to them. Simple as that. Keep it relevant and engaging.
3. Cross-pollinate your friends
from one social media service to another. If I tell my Twitter followers I’m on Linkedin or Facebook, I will get new followers “crossing over” from social media service to another.
4. Use the same avatar for each service
so that you’re instantly recognizable by your friends from other services.
5. Help others unconditionally
Doing so attracts people to you and helps you be seen as an expert. I know this doesn’t seem very “markety” but that’s the point: it’s actually the best marketing you can do. If somebody showed they gave a damn and helped you solve a problem or answer a question, wouldn’t you be more inclined to follow/friend that person, maybe check out their blog?
6. Put in the time.
This is the hardest point for many to deal with. They just don’t have the time. My advice is to pick two social media sites that resonate with you and use them.
Take breaks.
ou can wear your followers and friends out if you over-use a service. They’ll get sick of you, even if you’re providing value. It’s like the social media version of that person at the party who just won’t shut up and you want to wring his neck.
Why incorporate SMM into your marketing mix? Well, as opposed to advertising- SMM is free. It's also credible - peers advising peers.
My role, what I do and what I love to do is promote my client's events, services, products and brand through any and every avenue possible. I have fun doing this because the world of social media allows me to engage with and follow folks who have the same interests and want to hear what I have to say - and vice versa. What you can do with SMM is this; build a community. Engage with your customers, partners, prospects and peers. Have a voice. Listen and learn from others. Use social media tools to help build your brand.
Tips I have found on colleagues blogs and tweets:
1. Know why you’re using a service.
I use Twitter (http://twitter.com/dvendley) to access relevant links to useful knowledge and influential people in my idustry and to reach and develop mutually beneficial relationships with others. Linkedin provides me the ability to tap on or grow the collective knowledge and expertise in my network. This is assuming I've linked up to people I know or trust to be reliable, of course (I have). Then, even if my immediate contact does not know the answer, their contacts down the trust chain may or can refer to people who can help me. Facebook has proven valuable both personally and professionally. I have created groups and connected with long forgeotten colleagues and aquaintances who are now valuable resources, prospects and who can link me into their networks..
2. Know what your followers or friends want - provide value.
Understand what your friends, family, colleagues and customers wnat and give it to them. Simple as that. Keep it relevant and engaging.
3. Cross-pollinate your friends
from one social media service to another. If I tell my Twitter followers I’m on Linkedin or Facebook, I will get new followers “crossing over” from social media service to another.
4. Use the same avatar for each service
so that you’re instantly recognizable by your friends from other services.
5. Help others unconditionally
Doing so attracts people to you and helps you be seen as an expert. I know this doesn’t seem very “markety” but that’s the point: it’s actually the best marketing you can do. If somebody showed they gave a damn and helped you solve a problem or answer a question, wouldn’t you be more inclined to follow/friend that person, maybe check out their blog?
6. Put in the time.
This is the hardest point for many to deal with. They just don’t have the time. My advice is to pick two social media sites that resonate with you and use them.
Take breaks.
ou can wear your followers and friends out if you over-use a service. They’ll get sick of you, even if you’re providing value. It’s like the social media version of that person at the party who just won’t shut up and you want to wring his neck.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
What if
What if you could get all your marketing and public relations needs met in one place? With a talent pool to choose from who were local, affordable and managed for you?
Just a thought
So Fridays at Five this week is a double whammie....ladies only at four (face it on 5th street) then we join the guys at Jo Feds at Five...See you there
Cheers
Just a thought
So Fridays at Five this week is a double whammie....ladies only at four (face it on 5th street) then we join the guys at Jo Feds at Five...See you there
Cheers
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Get Those Happy Customers Yakkin'
"[M]any companies hesitate to launch customer case studies because they worry about imposing on their best customers," say Barbara Bix and Olga Taylor in an article at MarketingProfs. "To their delight, however, companies often discover that decision-makers are happy to discuss their experiences and look forward to being featured in an article that positions them as a leader in their industry."
If a belief that case studies impose on clients has prevented you from showcasing your best work in public, you're missing out on a host of benefits that could speed a sale along. These include:
Associating your brand with those of high-profile customers.
Attracting reporters hungry for substantive narratives and sources willing to speak on the record.
Enticing prospects who discover case studies in Google searches.
Bix and Taylor recommend providing at least one case study for each product or service you offer in each industry you serve. "Each satisfied customer is a key to several others who are similar, want to be similar, or simply know of your customers," they say. "Can you afford to have them keep their story to themselves?"
The Point: "Customer success stories work by matching your prospects' goals, titles, problems, company characteristics, industry buzzwords, and so on to those of your successful customers," say Bix and Taylor. "That's because customers believe that their situations are relevant to companies that are just like them."
"[M]any companies hesitate to launch customer case studies because they worry about imposing on their best customers," say Barbara Bix and Olga Taylor in an article at MarketingProfs. "To their delight, however, companies often discover that decision-makers are happy to discuss their experiences and look forward to being featured in an article that positions them as a leader in their industry."
If a belief that case studies impose on clients has prevented you from showcasing your best work in public, you're missing out on a host of benefits that could speed a sale along. These include:
Associating your brand with those of high-profile customers.
Attracting reporters hungry for substantive narratives and sources willing to speak on the record.
Enticing prospects who discover case studies in Google searches.
Bix and Taylor recommend providing at least one case study for each product or service you offer in each industry you serve. "Each satisfied customer is a key to several others who are similar, want to be similar, or simply know of your customers," they say. "Can you afford to have them keep their story to themselves?"
The Point: "Customer success stories work by matching your prospects' goals, titles, problems, company characteristics, industry buzzwords, and so on to those of your successful customers," say Bix and Taylor. "That's because customers believe that their situations are relevant to companies that are just like them."
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