Web presence pt.4 social media

Today we will be wrapping up our Website vs. Web Presence blog series discussing Social Media! If you missed the past blog posts, please click here: the role of a professionally made website, S.E.O., e-marketing.

Why should I pay someone to update my Facebook status? Well, if that’s all they are doing, you really shouldn’t. However, social media for business is more than status updates. It’s the utilization of new tools to promote the oldest of all tricks: the word of mouth. From big game hunts painted inside caves thousands of years ago all the way to microblogging  people like to share their activities and personal opinions.

Think of regular media as a one-way street where you can read a newspaper or listen to a report on television, but you have very limited ability to give your thoughts on the matter. Social media, on the other hand, is a two-way street that gives you the ability to communicate. It is a platform where people talk about your business, allowing multi-channel communication that works in three layers:

• It exposes your brand to a general audience, allowing you to educate an audience about the importance or uniqueness of your product or service.
• It allows people to use THEIR credibility to promote your business
• It opens a communication channel between your business, your customers and prospects

Geo-location sites, networking sites, microblogs, social sites, B2B sites, blogs, message boards… these are channels of communication with people that might need your services, people that might want your product. Which one is the best for you? Well, it really depends on the unique selling value of your business and the services/products that you bring to the table, the specific target audience that you want to attract, and the available and sustainable budget. We all know that the final result of a marketing tool or a full campaign is to develop or expand the brand awareness and to bring a fresh source of revenue.

Please consider these topics and invest in the correct tools for your business model; do not use your valuable resources for ineffective efforts. Social media has definitely changed the industry and has made a great impact for our clients. From large corporations to “mom and pop” stores, the two-way communication and “digital” word-of-mouth can help a business see results! It is important to devote time and plan accordingly. Contact us and make sure you like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for tips and more information.