When looking into starting a social media marketing campaign, it is important to know some basic facts about social media. These 5 facts will help you understand where to start in social media, and how Hurrdat can help.
1. Social media is useless without goals
Whether it is increasing followers, generating retweets, driving blog views, or getting new leads, the GOAL is the most important part of engaging with a social media marketing consultant. How can the consultant/service help you reach your goals?
-Hurrdat works with you one-on-one to create monthly goals, and delivers detailed analytics at the end of each month.
2. Different social media sites serve different purposes
While each social network can be used universally, each of them have their unique advantages. Facebook is the go-to website to be in the middle of your target market’s social life, but you may be competing with Gramma Genny’s photo albums. Twitter is becoming a great news source, where you can share knowledge through links and short blips, but your message can be lost between threads of thousands of tweets. LinkedIn has a large amount of business users, but can fail to feel truly social, because of the focus on business interactions.
-Hurrdat organizes your marketing for you, and understands which messages belong in which social network. You’ll be represented in any amount of social networks you find relevant, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WordPress, and YouTube
Social media has it all, but the 'restaurant' is starting to get more clients sitting down to grind out some real business.
3. ‘Social media’ is a misnomer
Some can be turned off by the term ‘Social Media,’ assuming that the networks exist only to socialize. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I assimilate social media to a restaurant. In a restaurant, there are several different types of interactions. You’ve got the friends catching up after years apart over drinks (Facebook). You’ve got the table of soccer moms discussing the most recent sale at Kohl’s (Twitter/Wordpress). There’s also the rowdy crowd at the bar, sharing stories that are probably too ridiculous to share, but they do anyway (Facebook, again). Then you’ve got the business deals going on out on the floor (LinkedIn). While all these groups are part of the restaurant/social media dynamic, it is important to focus on where the deals are being done. Social media has it all, but the ‘restaurant’ is starting to get more clients sitting down to grind out some real business.
-Social media isn’t just for being ‘social’ it can be about business, all day everyday. More and more consumers are getting their information via social media. In Spring 2010, Hurrdat helped a B2B client get over $250,000 in new leads. That number has since grown to over $500,000.
4. People want to hire other people, not businesses
Being real is important. The social media space allows for brands to step outside of the traditional ‘box’ that is print/television media, and start being real. People are attracted to the social aspect of social media, and can be fully influenced by a more personal, friendly brand.
-Hurrdat creates an entire brand personality. From the posts we create, to the interactions with potential clients, you will be a real person online, not a static website.
5. You cannot afford to be left out of the loop
The entire social media space is growing. It is highly likely that one of your competitors is currently involved with social media, or is planning to join in soon. Being the second to market isn’t terrible, but why not be the FIRST?
-By being present in social media, you can have a distinct advantage over your competitors. By providing valuable information to potential customers, creating a brand personality, interacting with clients, and having an overall strategy, you will be able to jump in front of all of your competition.
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