Well more stats coming your way. What does this all mean? Go checkout
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=3212295
I will make a prediction now. Bye Bye MySpace, and I am being to see a trend for Twitter which is not rosy. It is looking more and more like Twitter is a fad and will fade. Why, well the age demographics keep going lower and lower and what is the one thing we know about teenagers? The one thing is we know they are fickle. Today it is Twitter tomorrow it is enhanced features for SMSing technologies. Let’s face it – Twitter is just a viewable list of text messages without pictures or sound. “Pictures” are we not a image driven consumer race? Are we so shallow we only really want to read 140 spaces made up of less than half words that only drive us to other places to get our complete fill of images, sounds and full bodied words built around a well constructed sentence?
Maybe I am wrong.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Getting the Word OUT!!!
Now that you have your account or accounts ready to go, you are probably wondering how in the world do I let the world know I have something to offer them! Well, this answer is easy for today. Next time we will dive into some more sophisticated ways such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing. For now let us stay with what you can do today, right now. This involves using tools you already know and love. O.k. well maybe just maybe you don't love them, but have been forced to utilize them because of our ever evolving society’s marriage with technology. Maybe you long for the days of the Pony Express or snail mail. Or maybe you long for the good ole days of sending Morris code or better yet smoke signals. If you prefer anyone of these I have just mentioned - you might just be a red nec..... O.k. I'm sorry I put you through that. But hey this is my blog! So get over it. Just kidding, but seriously dude chill!
O boy where were we before I took us on a little bitty tangent? Oh yea, getting the word out about what is on your mind about your business.
How about Word of mouth - easy, effective and could be absolutely FREE! Spreading the word about your social media identity is much like spreading the word about any business. The message has to be relevant and ring loud and clear to the recipient before they will store it, use it and then tell someone else. Viral marketing I believe is what it is called. You might also be able to squeeze the idea out that this is a bit of a guerilla or grass roots marketing tactic/strategy. At any rate, this is a viable way to get your word out.
How about networking? Yes yes I know this is a bit like word of mouth, but with a twist. When you go to events you usually meet people right, give them your 30 second elevator “self advertisement“ and then lay the big enchilada on them. It’s called a "BUSINESS CARD". Wow this is a small "take with them" billboard. Just think, you have now just promoted yourself, your endeavor, and now they will have a billboard to follow your link to your Social Media business site. Wow what a novel idea. Yes thank you thank you thank you very much. Yes I know. Today’s business cards should at least have your name, phone number, e-mail, website, and at least one of your social media sites listed on it.
O.k. ready for another “hold onto your seats now cause your mind is about to be blown”! shhhh be very quite cause I don't want this to get out.............o.k. what about.....well maybe I really should not say anything..............o.k. o.k.............using your other social media Sites to help promote your NEW and IMPROVED social media site. I know genius right? Man I love it when I do this! Doesn’t this sound very very familiar to you.....think back to the word "linking". Have you got it? Great! Man, you had me worried there for a bit. That is right; linking all of your appropriate social media sites together is a form of advertising. You already have followers, so get them in the “know” and they can help spread the wonderful word about you as well.
Wow we are almost done for today, all we have is one more idea to go. It is the oldest form of communicating (at least when it comes to the Internet). It is called "e-Mail". Yes, I realize some of you gen x'ers and millenniums may not really understand this term. Think of it as SMS, MMS, IM, tweeting, etc using properly constructed sentences and full letter words.
Using e-Mail is still a great way to communicate with the world. You can now reach out to those whom you can’t see face-to-face, are not on facebook, MySpace etc., don’t have texting on their cell phone, maybe they don’t even have a cell phone, don’t use IM (or even know what it is) or use any other more advanced way to communicate. E-Mail is so universal now that even a monkey has an e-Mail account set-up. To take full advantage of this form of communications make sure to include your social media widgets (RSS, Facebook, BLOG, Linkedin etc.) when e-Mailing your carefully crafted marketing message.
The above ideas are relatively easy and very cost effective if not FREE (depending on your resource allocations). These forms are well established in the fabric for everyday life now and many of those you reach out to will not be over whelmed by the technology. On top of this, you will be delivering to them relevant content, free of charge and on a timely basis. You are putting the control into their hands to customize their enter action with you. I would suggest you don’t just use one tool, but fill your bag with as many ways as possible since not everyone is going to be watching the same show on the same channel.
O boy where were we before I took us on a little bitty tangent? Oh yea, getting the word out about what is on your mind about your business.
How about Word of mouth - easy, effective and could be absolutely FREE! Spreading the word about your social media identity is much like spreading the word about any business. The message has to be relevant and ring loud and clear to the recipient before they will store it, use it and then tell someone else. Viral marketing I believe is what it is called. You might also be able to squeeze the idea out that this is a bit of a guerilla or grass roots marketing tactic/strategy. At any rate, this is a viable way to get your word out.
How about networking? Yes yes I know this is a bit like word of mouth, but with a twist. When you go to events you usually meet people right, give them your 30 second elevator “self advertisement“ and then lay the big enchilada on them. It’s called a "BUSINESS CARD". Wow this is a small "take with them" billboard. Just think, you have now just promoted yourself, your endeavor, and now they will have a billboard to follow your link to your Social Media business site. Wow what a novel idea. Yes thank you thank you thank you very much. Yes I know. Today’s business cards should at least have your name, phone number, e-mail, website, and at least one of your social media sites listed on it.
O.k. ready for another “hold onto your seats now cause your mind is about to be blown”! shhhh be very quite cause I don't want this to get out.............o.k. what about.....well maybe I really should not say anything..............o.k. o.k.............using your other social media Sites to help promote your NEW and IMPROVED social media site. I know genius right? Man I love it when I do this! Doesn’t this sound very very familiar to you.....think back to the word "linking". Have you got it? Great! Man, you had me worried there for a bit. That is right; linking all of your appropriate social media sites together is a form of advertising. You already have followers, so get them in the “know” and they can help spread the wonderful word about you as well.
Wow we are almost done for today, all we have is one more idea to go. It is the oldest form of communicating (at least when it comes to the Internet). It is called "e-Mail". Yes, I realize some of you gen x'ers and millenniums may not really understand this term. Think of it as SMS, MMS, IM, tweeting, etc using properly constructed sentences and full letter words.
Using e-Mail is still a great way to communicate with the world. You can now reach out to those whom you can’t see face-to-face, are not on facebook, MySpace etc., don’t have texting on their cell phone, maybe they don’t even have a cell phone, don’t use IM (or even know what it is) or use any other more advanced way to communicate. E-Mail is so universal now that even a monkey has an e-Mail account set-up. To take full advantage of this form of communications make sure to include your social media widgets (RSS, Facebook, BLOG, Linkedin etc.) when e-Mailing your carefully crafted marketing message.
The above ideas are relatively easy and very cost effective if not FREE (depending on your resource allocations). These forms are well established in the fabric for everyday life now and many of those you reach out to will not be over whelmed by the technology. On top of this, you will be delivering to them relevant content, free of charge and on a timely basis. You are putting the control into their hands to customize their enter action with you. I would suggest you don’t just use one tool, but fill your bag with as many ways as possible since not everyone is going to be watching the same show on the same channel.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Do what I say, not as I do..............
Well well well, seems I have made a snafu (calculated or not). Can you guess what this snafu is? I will give you a hint - consistency. Anybody? Brueler Brueler has anyone seen.............O.k you need another hint? How about – time? I think we are getting closer ........ding ding ding I think we have a winner!!!!! All Right! For all of your efforts you win a big screen TV for your next dream. O.k. o.k. the answer is providing a consistent and timely posting. It has been a bit over two weeks since my last posting and I bet you forgot all about me - well almost. Point is, Social Media Marketing is just like every other form of advertising. If you are not in front of your audience they will forget you or not trust you with their time. Especially when they can click just around the corner and find someone else doing the same thing you are.
This brings up a good question – “do you have to have the same consistent campaign message over extended periods of time and does it really matter”? Well, it is a complicated question. I am going to extend a “yes” and a “no” answer. I know it is a bit confusing, but there really is a “yes” answer and a “no” answer. “Yes” you need to provide a consistent “Brand” message over time and on a consistent timely basis. “No” you do not need to provide the same campaign type of message all of the time. Think of “Nike”, they provide a brand image of athletic footwear that will help you perform better. Their campaign messaging changes depending on the sport they focus on in advertisements.
Check out “Assessing the long-term impact of a consistent advertising campaign on consumer memory.” http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/advertising/174156-1.html. This article is a bit long, but it does provide some pretty good insight into “consistent advertising”. If you do not read the article, at least remember this from the article:
Consumer recall and recognition will be better for a brand whose schema has been established with a continuous advertising campaign compared with a new brand using a similar message strategy.
This is very important for all of us trying to brand our product. It is not good to steal someone else’s idea and try to make it our own. Yes, there may be some elements, but be very careful. Just take a look at the Duracell Bunny vs. the Energizer Bunny. Think about this for a bit. Is it the Duracell or Energizer bunny???? Think hard. It is actually both. The point is Eveready (owner of Energizer) captured the concept from Duracell (legally of course), but confusion grew with the public and Duracell actually believes about 40% of those who see the advertisements think of Duracell rather than Energizer.
Without consistency you will
• Slowly lose customer trust and credibility
• Confuse your customers by appearing undecided (make up your mind!)
• Come across as not having been in business very long
Consistency is very very very important!
Let me know if you agree or not.
This brings up a good question – “do you have to have the same consistent campaign message over extended periods of time and does it really matter”? Well, it is a complicated question. I am going to extend a “yes” and a “no” answer. I know it is a bit confusing, but there really is a “yes” answer and a “no” answer. “Yes” you need to provide a consistent “Brand” message over time and on a consistent timely basis. “No” you do not need to provide the same campaign type of message all of the time. Think of “Nike”, they provide a brand image of athletic footwear that will help you perform better. Their campaign messaging changes depending on the sport they focus on in advertisements.
Check out “Assessing the long-term impact of a consistent advertising campaign on consumer memory.” http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/advertising/174156-1.html. This article is a bit long, but it does provide some pretty good insight into “consistent advertising”. If you do not read the article, at least remember this from the article:
Consumer recall and recognition will be better for a brand whose schema has been established with a continuous advertising campaign compared with a new brand using a similar message strategy.
This is very important for all of us trying to brand our product. It is not good to steal someone else’s idea and try to make it our own. Yes, there may be some elements, but be very careful. Just take a look at the Duracell Bunny vs. the Energizer Bunny. Think about this for a bit. Is it the Duracell or Energizer bunny???? Think hard. It is actually both. The point is Eveready (owner of Energizer) captured the concept from Duracell (legally of course), but confusion grew with the public and Duracell actually believes about 40% of those who see the advertisements think of Duracell rather than Energizer.
Without consistency you will
• Slowly lose customer trust and credibility
• Confuse your customers by appearing undecided (make up your mind!)
• Come across as not having been in business very long
Consistency is very very very important!
Let me know if you agree or not.
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