So many platforms, so little time…..

We are in a technological world that is not just changing, but changing exponentially. So here’s a whirlwind tour of the world of social media marketing.

1. WHO will benefit from using social media?
Well, let’s see if the 500 fastest-growing privately-owned companies in the USA (Inc. 500) do:

• 91% of the companies used at least one social media tool in 2009

• 52% of the companies are using Twitter for business

• 36% employ a formal policy for employees that blog

• 68% are monitoring their brand terms in social media

Mmmm…..and they seem to be doing okay.

2. WHY will social media help to grow your business?
Because word of mouth has become worLd of mouth:

• 34% of bloggers post opinions about products & brands.

• 78% of consumers trust peer recommendations.  Only 14% trust advertisements.

So how do you ensure the online conversations about your products and services are positive?  Social media tools like Facebook (1.6 million users in Ireland) are a great way to build a community around your brand.  This enables you to monitor and address the satisfaction level of your customers.  And satisfied customers are your best sales people!

3. WHAT social media tools will work best for your business?
Every business needs its own social media strategy to ensure the best ROI.  An effective strategy would include social networking, blogging, discussion forums, social bookmarking, podcasts and webinars along with the sharing of pictures, presentations and videos.  But this is a lot to manage.  So dip your toe in first before you try to swim the Atlantic.

4. WHEN can you find the time?
We all seem to be busier than ever these days.  So perhaps start with 10 minutes a day and try to build up to one hour daily.  The fact that social media and online marketing are highly measurable means that you’ll know what’s securing new business for you, which justifies the investment.

5. WHERE will you find your ideal clients?
It’s a great big world out there and the internet has made it ever bigger.  But fortunately it has also created search tools which allow you to find people by location, age, gender, education, interests, languages, job title, etc.  So social media tools generate very strong leads in terms of finding customers who will be interested in your product or service.

6.  HOW can you manage all of this on top of a full-time job?
It’s a very valid conundrum.  One option is to outsource your social media marketing campaign.  The key to social media marketing is authenticity.  But as long as you provide the content, an expert can help you to target your ideal clients, identify the best tools for your business and ensure that your social media strategy drives traffic back to your website.

If you have any musings, mutterings or muddlings about social media marketing, please leave a comment below!