Rapid fire thoughts on social media marketing for a Tuesday morning.
Social Media is not the be-all and end-all of marketing.
But it works. Very well.
Social media should always be approached as one component of your overall marketing mix.
And your marketing plan should be fully integrated. You should have firm goals in place with everything circling back to everything else.
Social media doesn’t necessarily negate traditional media. In many cases there is still a place for print, broadcast, and direct marketing.
If you use Twitter, it should draw people to your other online destinations. Facebook should be used to build community while also drawing people to your website.
Your blog should establish you as a thought leader in your industry, as you provide real content that draws people to you.
Your website should have clear links to your social media properties. People shouldn’t have to look far to see if you have a blog, or a Facebook page, or a Twitter account, etc.
Your print material or broadcast messages should clearly let people know how to find you online.
Have a clear message in mind. The message delivered via all of your platforms should be the same, but don’t merely duplicate content on all platforms. Each platform has its own purpose in the mix, just like each utensil in a kitchen has its own purpose and use.
That same message should be reinforced in your use of traditional media. Treat all of your marketing outlets as different parts of the same body.
Having a Twitter account or Facebook page doesn’t mean you are “doing” social media. You need to use them properly, consistently, and effectively.
Remember, it’s all about community. In this day and age, it’s not about the product. It’s about the customer.
The key to social media is the word “social”.
What does “social” mean to you?
