5 Social Media Musts for Corporate 2012

Social media is fun and games ... but it isn't all fun and games. There's also a lot of serious business to be had, especially for modern marketers who mean business. What should you be doing to make the most of your social media marketing program? Here's a short list of five must-dos for social media success in 2012:  Have a strategy. Create a plan. Stop trying to be everything to everyone and develop a strategy that will help you achieve your objectives. Then, follow best practices for creating goal-oriented tactical plans. Get creative with your content. Social media requires a lot of engaging content if you want to stand out. So, stop being boring and start resonating with your audiences by creating content with personality. Know what you'll do in a crisis. A crisis played out on social media spreads far—and fast. Now's the time to create the necessary plans and polices, and empower your staff to act quickly when a crisis develops. Measure. Measure. And measure again. (Did we say measure?) Start by setting SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound) goals for audience attention, attitude, and action. Make Available a Real-time Purchasing System.  Once a relationship is established in the online community, your fans will gain your trust and want to buy your product or service.  Don't make it difficult for them! Without a plan to reach out, it will be most difficult to win fans over.

Social Media Video

Not long ago - the year was 2000 - we heard many people and companies make "non-belief" comments about the internet like many do today with social media.  Kind of funny when you think about it.

Social media has captured the attention and awe of the marketing world with the promise of increased customer engagement and lower marketing costs. Yet behind the buzz lies the question of how to measure its success. With no standard means of measurement, it is difficult to decipher the value of different platforms and determine the true ROI of social media marketing. To make sense of the situation, SMC wants to share an eye-opening video based on recent findings and figures. Watch this short video on the facts, factors, methods and metrics that businesses need to know in understanding the real return of social media.

Advice from the Social Media Experts

Social Media marketers share their secrets to social success:

• Start with the Right Strategy - "Align with the goals of your department. That's a good starting place. In most cases your department strategy should also align to a larger corporate strategy. We don't want a communication strategy that is at odds with our service strategy." (Shannon Paul, Blue Cross Blue Shield)
• Know Your Objectives - "Tie your social media activities to existing objectives, such as increasing online sales, driving web traffic or boosting attendance at your next webinar or offline event. Set a reasonable target, see what happens and use it as a benchmark for future campaigns." (David B. Thomas, Radian6)
• Deliver Relevant Content - "Deliver the right content, at the right time, in the right channel to the right customer (or partner). Relevant content happens as a result of listening, thought leadership, Google insights, and community sentiment." (Michael Brito, Edelman Digital)
• Develop Meaningful Relationships - "Use social media as a platform for developing relationships. Show your thought leadership by answering questions on LinkedIn — it could lead to new contacts and leads." (Shashi Bellamkonda, Network Solutions)
• Integrate into Your Marketing Mix - "Don't leave opportunities on the table; explore how you can extend your marketing effort by integrating social elements into your PR, events and customer support activities." (Jane Price, Marketing Consultant)

• Measure What Matters - "Distill social media measurement down to core metrics that your company is already measuring that have history behind them. When you show what social media is or isn't delivering there is a conversation that can take place." (Nichole Kelly, Full Frontal ROI)

• "And let's not forget to a bullet point that sits in a category of its own: Call-To-Action.  People, in general, want to be sold.  So, a simple call-to-action button or link must be provided for those who wish to buy.  K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple and Smart!"  (Mike Harley, SMC)

 

One of Six Trends to Watch Out for in 2012

SOCIAL SHARING. Ideas, opinions, media, status updates are all part of what makes social media a powerful and often disruptive force. The media industry was one of the first to understand this, adding sharing options to content, which led to more page views and better status in search results. What comes next in social sharing is more closely aligned with e-commerce or web transactions. For example, Sears allows a user to share a product or review with their networks directly from the site. Sharing that vacation you just booked, or recommending a product, or service from any site to a social network is where sharing goes next. We probably don't know what we are willing to share until we see the option to do it. 

Isn't it about time we show you how to add a "Reserve A Space" link on your Facebook page?  And then direct your follower to a page for transacting and tracking?  This is the future and you can have it now.

We will share the "LIKES" of this strategy at the Client User Conference.

This is last posting for 2012.  

Happy Holidays from your friends at SMC!

Have you ever said to yourself or others? "I wish I took the time to learn more about ..."

2012:  Please think for a few minutes on what consumers (you and your customer) will be introduced to with respect to information (the expanded fast moving, internet highway), technology (simple cloud-based software accessible anywhere), devices (mobile apps managing daily routines) and media (socially connected through various channels) in the year ahead.  Transformation, also known as change of circumstance, is very scary to most people, especially in business!  Why?  Because management will have to adapt or simply get left behind, thus resulting in lost market share.

For the entrepreneur, executive vice-president, general manager, or recent college graduate, I highly recommend you begin preparing yourself to take advantage of market opportunities and help ensure growth, whether personal or business. 

I found an excellent 20-minute presentation on YouTube that I want to share with everyone.  We can always use fresh information in our business life.  And if I had to take a guess, the audience in the room paid over $500 to attend this conference. But for you, it's FREE.  Enjoy!