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Understanding the Social Marketing Concept
Posted 10th August 2012 at 02:47 PM by GT
Understanding the Social Marketing Concept
Internet Marketing is a constantly evolving process and aspiring entrepreneurs who don’t make the effort to keep up with the changes will fall by the wayside. Understanding the Social Marketing concept has become a big issue for many.
I am still trying to get a handle on it myself and I am looking into getting some training to help improve my focus and the results of my efforts.
One issue that I see many online marketers fall subject to is the mistaken idea that “social networking” is simply another form of advertising. What I mean is, they join Social Media sites like Facebook, Twitter, IM faceplate and others and instead of being truly social they make every communication with other members an ad or promo for something.
Worse yet, some of them use their direct messaging privileges to spam other members. Either their message is outright and obvious spam, or they try to disguise it as a “request for you, as an experienced marketer, to review my new program and give me an evaluation.” All they are really trying to do is generate more traffic to their website or sales page.
I’m not saying you can’t use social networking sites to promote your products, services and programs. As Internet Marketers, for us that is the main attraction of social sites. What I am saying is to apply the Social Marketing concept in a more respectful manner and focus on using it to build your brand, rather than direct sell your products.
The idea behind effective Social Marketing or Social Media Marketing is to create exposure and awareness for your business and to drive traffic to your website. Your aim should be to build your image as an expert in your marketing niche. When people think of your niche, you want them to also think of you or your website.
This requires you to develop a positive image as a professional marketer. If all you ever do is advertise and promote on the social sites, the only image you will develop is as a pushy salesperson. You will soon be forgotten in the crowd.
You want to be unique, to stand out from the crowd. The Social Marketing concept allows you to do this exceptionally well ... if you do it right.
Instead of posting ads and promos on your favourite social sites, provide helpful, insightful information related to your market niche. Tell your targeted prospects how to solve problems and improve their lives. Give this information to them free; don’t entice them with a promise, then make them sign up or pay to get the information.
What you really want to do is get them to your website and then you can encourage them to willingly give you their email address so you can get them into your contact and follow-up system.
Here again, I am not saying you should not include that option somewhere on your social networking sites. What I am saying is to use it as an available option only, not as a requirement to get valuable information. Be sure to give them some of your best info and insight free on the social site as a demonstration of your expertise and value to them and to encourage them to visit your website for even more great stuff.
Your social networking results will be better doing it this way than by constantly pounding people with ads and promos. If you offer true value, then people will much more likely tell others in their social circles about you.
Remember, each person is the hub of a much wider social circle. That is why you want them to have a positive image of you. It is not the value of that one person that you are going after but the potential connections they can create for your ultimate benefit.
Getting a better understanding of the Social Marketing concept should be a priority for every Internet Marketer. You need to learn what to do, how to do it most effectively and then you need to get out there and do it.
GT
Affiliate Power Central
For more info on this topic, read my post, How to Accelerate Your Social Marketing Strategy.
~ ~ ~
* Home Business Opportunities and Affiliate Resources
* Free Article Directory – Blog Post: Submit to this directory TODAY!
* Brand Yourself! – Blog post: Social Networking for Internet Marketers
* Reinventing Your Life - Make the Rest of Your Life the BEST of Your Life!
* Follow Me On Twitter: ===> MyPowerSite <===| gtbulmer | StarrBizzcom
Internet Marketing is a constantly evolving process and aspiring entrepreneurs who don’t make the effort to keep up with the changes will fall by the wayside. Understanding the Social Marketing concept has become a big issue for many.
I am still trying to get a handle on it myself and I am looking into getting some training to help improve my focus and the results of my efforts.
One issue that I see many online marketers fall subject to is the mistaken idea that “social networking” is simply another form of advertising. What I mean is, they join Social Media sites like Facebook, Twitter, IM faceplate and others and instead of being truly social they make every communication with other members an ad or promo for something.
Worse yet, some of them use their direct messaging privileges to spam other members. Either their message is outright and obvious spam, or they try to disguise it as a “request for you, as an experienced marketer, to review my new program and give me an evaluation.” All they are really trying to do is generate more traffic to their website or sales page.
I’m not saying you can’t use social networking sites to promote your products, services and programs. As Internet Marketers, for us that is the main attraction of social sites. What I am saying is to apply the Social Marketing concept in a more respectful manner and focus on using it to build your brand, rather than direct sell your products.
The idea behind effective Social Marketing or Social Media Marketing is to create exposure and awareness for your business and to drive traffic to your website. Your aim should be to build your image as an expert in your marketing niche. When people think of your niche, you want them to also think of you or your website.
This requires you to develop a positive image as a professional marketer. If all you ever do is advertise and promote on the social sites, the only image you will develop is as a pushy salesperson. You will soon be forgotten in the crowd.
You want to be unique, to stand out from the crowd. The Social Marketing concept allows you to do this exceptionally well ... if you do it right.
Instead of posting ads and promos on your favourite social sites, provide helpful, insightful information related to your market niche. Tell your targeted prospects how to solve problems and improve their lives. Give this information to them free; don’t entice them with a promise, then make them sign up or pay to get the information.
What you really want to do is get them to your website and then you can encourage them to willingly give you their email address so you can get them into your contact and follow-up system.
Here again, I am not saying you should not include that option somewhere on your social networking sites. What I am saying is to use it as an available option only, not as a requirement to get valuable information. Be sure to give them some of your best info and insight free on the social site as a demonstration of your expertise and value to them and to encourage them to visit your website for even more great stuff.
Your social networking results will be better doing it this way than by constantly pounding people with ads and promos. If you offer true value, then people will much more likely tell others in their social circles about you.
Remember, each person is the hub of a much wider social circle. That is why you want them to have a positive image of you. It is not the value of that one person that you are going after but the potential connections they can create for your ultimate benefit.
Getting a better understanding of the Social Marketing concept should be a priority for every Internet Marketer. You need to learn what to do, how to do it most effectively and then you need to get out there and do it.
GT
Affiliate Power Central
For more info on this topic, read my post, How to Accelerate Your Social Marketing Strategy.
~ ~ ~
* Home Business Opportunities and Affiliate Resources
* Free Article Directory – Blog Post: Submit to this directory TODAY!
* Brand Yourself! – Blog post: Social Networking for Internet Marketers
* Reinventing Your Life - Make the Rest of Your Life the BEST of Your Life!
* Follow Me On Twitter: ===> MyPowerSite <===| gtbulmer | StarrBizzcom
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