The internet is a huge stage. Social Networking is the big show. Companies, here’s your chance to be in the spotlight.

It is clear that millions of people are now using social media and it is entirely part of their media consumption. Whatever the brand name and the industry a company is operating in- social media needs to be part of the communication channels in order to interact, engage, listen and share with the various target audiences.

Facebook and Twitter are now becoming the minimum requirements for any marketers (NB: social network sites vary according to each market and type of business)- would you create an e-commerce site without featuring the Visa, Mastercard or Paypal logos on your payment method section? Same goes with online presence and social media.

Social media is now becoming a major part of online marketing activities- However it remains important to assess your resources and your business model in order to make the most of social media and to engage via the best suitable routes with your target audience(s)- eg: B2B business focusing in France- may use both Facebook, viadeo.com, dailymotion.com part of its social media strategy. Don’t start until you are ready!

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Great article. More and more businesses are beginning to realize the importance and benefits of a social media presence. It’s an important part of establishing a relationship with customers.

I have recently completed another full year in new and fresh R&D looking at social networking and peoples willing-ness to buy and how it all works. In fact I bothered to write a 15 page document on on-line marketing and how a web presence works and its pitfalls.

Tickle a fancy…
Social networking works in a simple and easy way, if you have followers, they have an interest in what you do, Twitter does have the B2B people and this doesn’t really work, unless your B2B selling.
Facebook on the other hand promotes more brand awareness, again this is NOT a pressure sale and people will friend or fan you as they like what you do. plus for those who post little tit-bits of information that is not hard sell or constant advertising will find that people can relate to them.

Also while we offer services and people are friends and see the posts come up on their wall, if you are offering something then they will be more inclined to click your link.

example…
Two photographers make occasional posts regarding photography and it also states they do photography and a probably know for it by those who have read the profile.

Clients do NOT come and ask them first. or go for a photo shoot idea..
When a wall posts comes up with Have an exciting photo shoot with X Y Z for your XYZ with Promotion on ABC date, then people think.. Do I want that, would it be nice, OK I will contact them.

We must never underestimate the word of Mouth.

While you post articles that may be read by your fans and followers, if a person keeps you in mind, by use of light and regular brand (service or goods) posts then people will think I know this person.. here is a link.. to their friends.

The Anti Christ.. Hide..

Many businesses will over use social media as a marketing only platform rather than allowing for that something that is a little more personal and real that people can relate to. If they become the constant badgering business, then Hide is a button that they will click, so not so regular and interesting and ranging topics will always keep people interesting and more likely to read and also recommend if they can Identify, if not then you will effectively be blocked and kill any chance you may have.

Twitter short comings.
As we know (or should) 3 way media is the best for promotion, twitters short text posts do not allow users to see and be enticed as much as a video link or picture post with some further detail, this means that grab lines or buzz words have to hit home and stand out from the mess of posts which you may be accustomed to with twitters home page.

The good thing is that integrating blogs with Twitter, and back to websites is a simple and easy thing to do; I would say is a must.
You can combine feeds to post news on your site and other blogs and posts to allow you to focus on the key post areas, without having dozens of sites you need to post and keep updated.
Fully integrating multi media platforms together gives you the best of all worlds.

I suspect the next revelation will be the video blog/tweet/posts as these are a lot more successful than text (people to lazy to read) and a picture tells a thousand words.

It is horses for courses, and we offer some of the best advice and information to businesses, with recent developments we raised a business client base by 100% in just a few weeks. But Social networking and promotion is NOT the beginning and the end, in fact many businesses need a complete overhaul.

Some businesses have gone down the cheap route with the add-on.
When using old sites and older methodology’s and cutting a link in or something more modern the whole site can look dated and a hash of mixed match ideas.
Many sites could do well to have a complete overhaul with key concepts of today Internet users, search engines and customers requirements and expectations to offer a experience.

A final quandary for you..
What if social networks give you your clients and conversions, because mobile users find you using phone browsers; The on web conversion are easier to use than your website and google promotes these sites over yours leading them there first…??

Mobile surfers is on the up..

What about those users who do not have a high speed connection and find your website slow and chunky with long download times?
Do you really consider all your users and potential customers?

Gerat article, really interesting!