It’s no secret that social marketing is the fastest growing segment of all marketing today. A recent study noted that only television still outranks the internet in terms of audience reach. That, in large part is due to the popularity of social sites such as Facebook and Twitter. For marketers it’s great because through social networking and word-of-mouth (or viral) advertising, your customers are more likely to come to you instead of you having to go out and find them. It knocks down advertising costs, and breaks down barriers to entry allowing small business and solo entrepreneurs a more level playing field to compete against the “big boys” (and girls, of course).
There are a few rules to remember before you start trying to make money via social marketing.
1.There’s a good reason that “social marketing” is called that. The whole idea is to be social – to interact with your friends and contacts – not to always be pitching your latest product or idea.
To be most effective within social media sites, take the time to build a relationship with your contacts. Get to know who they are, and more importantly, allow them to get to know you. There’s a common saying that people do business with those they “know, like, and trust” and you have to give your contacts time to get to know, like, and trust you. Marketing to them the minute you meet is a sure way to turn them off and make them not like you.
2. Remember that old saying, “the money is in thelist”? Most people think e-mail list when they hear that, but if you think in terms of social media then your Facebook friends are a list, your Twitter followers are a list, your Google Plus circles are lists, and your YouTube subscribers are a list. When it comes to social marketing, it pays to see your contacts as a part of your lists, and treat them with the same care and courtesy that you would treat your e-mail list.
3. Don’t let social media become a time-suck for you. It’s easy to spend hours getting lost in one site, never mind that you may be developing a following on more than one. Most marketers are active on at least three social media sites, and there are five “big ones” that you should be active on.
Your effectiveness as a social marketer depends on your ability to plan your time and your social marketing strategy so that it doesn’t consume your entire day. Fortunately there are now tools such as Hoot Suite that allow you to schedule your posts and status updates, saving you valuable time.
Social marketing is a popular way to get your goods and services in front of potential customers. By following the rules – taking time to build relationships, treating your followers like you would your e-mail list, and taking the time to create a strategy that focuses on your goals and values your time you will be well on the way to success as a social marketer.
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