Harness The Power Of Being Social
Consumer conversations are driving the online experience. With the advent of Web 2.0, the consumer found a voice, and is using it. Plugging into that conversation is an important part of any online marketing plan.
Social marketing extends beyond Facebook and Myspace. These are just the tip of the iceberg. Consider the personal blog, the video blog, social bookmarking, micro-blogging, user communities, forums, P2P networks and a host of other emerging technologies that we haven't even seen yet.
Social Marketing and Social Media are two sides of the same coin.It is important to draw a distinction between social marketing and social media. Social marketing generally refers to reaching out to the individual consumer, creating a conversation and letting their voice carry the brand message. Social media refers to targeted ad placements within social environments and generally follows the old-school methodology of mass media.
These two philosophies work hand in hand. Create relevant content by reaching out to the individual consumer. Facilitate the conversation, create relevant content, and then follow up with targeted ad placements within the environment to drive home the message.
Social marketing and social media is cost effective, and gives the online marketing campaign longevity. It taps into the consumers online lifestyle and ads relevance to any campaign.
