It seems everywhere you turn these days you see someone talking, texting or surfing the web… in line at grocery stores, behind the people at the Deli counter, while getting gas and yes, (sad to say) even while driving. People are addicted to their mobile devices. In the age of smart phones and 3G technology Social Media Marketing is on the move! We are in the age of Mobile Media! The “Get it NOW” Media technology. So where DO you go for help and solutions for Social Media Marketing and Services? Where do you start? What exactly are you supposed to do? Where can you turn for help? You might even be asking yourself, do you even need Social Media? 
This just in from EMarketer “almost two in five small-business owners reported they would be growing their businesses with social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. That was up from less than one-quarter who planned to up their game with social in 2009 and made social media the only tactic to increase in importance since last year.”
Are YOU using social media to drive traffic to your website and increase sales? Or are you still sitting in the skeptics camp not certain that social media is anything other than a waste of time?
If you are not using social media to promote your services, products and website, you are missing out on one of the hottest marketing trends in years. And in doing so, your competition is very likely capturing sales that could be yours.
In the Internet world where there is so much competition, finding that traffic and getting the necessary exposure for your website can be difficult. But don’t get discouraged. First, the Internet is HUGE! Second, you can gain the upper hand by using social media to increase your web exposure and draw in new customers again and again.
Social media is opening doors for entrepreneurs and businesses worldwide. Through social media you can:
• Formulate joint venture partnerships with someone you otherwise would have never connected with.
• Interact with customers and clients in real time offering support and guidance.
• Interact with people who are interested in your product and services and in you.
• Drive massive amounts of traffic to your website, squeeze page and brick and mortar or online store.
And, if all that isn’t enough to convince you to incorporate social media into your strategic marketing efforts, the costs of social media most likely will. Aside from your time to network and connect with friends, followers and connections, nearly all social media tools and applications are free. Talk about an affordable and powerful strategic market…NICE, huh? So NOW are you ready to get started?
What Is Social Media?
Now that you know some of the reasons to employ a social media strategy, let’s find out what social media is exactly. Social media is the general term for the different ways you can network on the Internet. By creating relationships with others online, you can
• Position yourself as the expert in your field.
• Offer helpful advice.
• Answer questions.
• Gain the trust of those in your networking circles.
Once this trust is formed, those in your network will be more likely to buy your product or tell others about your services. You guessed it…this can equal more traffic to your site and better still, more money in your pocket.
Who Is Using Social Media?
Simply put – everyone! Young, old, retired working, professionals, laborers and even pets are using social media. Even the Dali Lama is on Twitter! Celebrities and average Joe’s alike are using social media to connect, build relationships and ultimately to profit in one form or another.
Social media, in many ways, is replacing traditional advertising. How often recently have you seen a commercial that said “visit our Facebook Fan page at www…..”? Or “follow us on Twitter”. Social media is coming into our homes, our computers, televisions and mainstream lives. Let’s take a look at some statistics in more detail from Global Mobile Stats: 1) Mobile subscribers will surpass 5 billion in 2010 (that’s over 70 percent of the world population). The International Telecommunication Union (February 2010) reports that in 2009 there were 4.6 billion mobile cellular subscriptions globally. The ITU expects this to reach 5 billion in 2010 (the world population in April 2010 was 6.8 billion.
What are the Different Forms of Social Media?
There are hundreds of social media groups we, as online business owners, can join. Some are very small and niche-specific (think forums & message boards) while others are much broader in scope and have millions of users. Sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook fall into the broad category. If you use a combination of these different venues, spreading the word about your business can be done very quickly.
We’re going to discuss these 3 of the most popular social networking/media sites a little more in depth in this Series. Before we get to those, remember this:
Don’t underestimate the power of your online relationships.
You just never know what opportunities might arise just from talking to new people in your network – even if they are half way across the world from you!
So stay tuned for a more in depth look at the pros and cons of each of the more popular social networking sites today – Twitter, Facebook, & LinkedIn!
P.S. for those of you that do not have the time to spend learning how to leverage Social Media or learn all the ins and outs, pros and cons: we currently offer a DYNAMIC SOCIAL MEDIA PACKAGE.
P.P.S Check out our next post in this Social Media Series!
Getting Help and Solutions for Social Media Marketing…
If you are not using social media to promote your services, products and website, you are missing out on one of the hottest marketing trends in years. And in doing so, your competition is very likely capturing sales that could be yours….