Everyone involved in the Internet marketing space struggles. It is difficult especially when trying to implement social media into brick and mortar companies. As she explains in this video from SBMU Columbus, Amber Tardiff knows first hand what this is like since she is the Marketing Director for the Law Offices of Joel Schwartz.
Most of these brick and mortar companies want to embrace new ideas, but they view social media as "play time." So how can you explain that you are utilizing social media sites instead of simply playing on social networks? One tip is to make sure that you emphasize how social media is outreaching and can help to build the company reputation.
Some companies still believe the myth that social networks are only for kids. Facebook statistics blatantly show that more than half of its approximated 150 million users are outside of college. What's even more interesting is that the users 30 years old and older are the fastest growing age group.
The company also needs to realize that their message can be spread and publicized for free through social media. Freeing up cash that is usually spent on advertising is sure to make some business executives smile.
It takes a lot of hard work and effort, but Amber says all it takes is one client/case to win the company over to see the benefits of social media.
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Social Media
Very informative article & video. We are still moving slow on the social marketing programs.
Re: Social Media
Social Media - Work Or Play
No contemporary employer or business worth his/her salt would ignore the protection of a workplace policy on this topic. First of all, what employees do on his PC(s) is his business. It's also his time that is paying for this "unproductive" time.
On the other hand, this is an untapped resource for the entrepreneur who works from his own space and technolgy at home or wherever he finds himself. Social media gurus need to get their heads out of sand and realize that this space is not theirs to own and do not have sole rights to it. This could lead further to confronting a PR department that has a possessive attitude, after all, mowing his own grass is what has kept him in his job. He is only defending and justifying what his role is not realizing that he probably started out as a freelancer shmoozing with the high rollers way back when.
Maybe he should get out of the house a bit more.
Small business
Marketing and PR is the biggest headache for small business owners like me. I own a mountain bike store, and am also a self-published author.Trying to compete with larger (bike) businesses and /or the publicity giants of New York City based publishers is virtually impossible. Websites like facebook and myspace open a new door for me. Smartly applied PR in form of videos and correspondense has inhanced my sale numbers and the traffic on my websites.
Rebecca Lerwill
award-winning author of Relocating Mia (July, 2007)
The Acronym (March, 2009)
Through Words (December, 2009)
Its all about TIME
I still see a lot of businesses shying away from this and/or not even giving it a chance I think there is a lot of potiental there if you have the time to put into it. It really comes down to time once many business discover it can work, are they willing to spend the time needed to make it work for them.
Mixing Business With Pleasure
Mixing business with pleasure is nothing new -- taking the client golfing or attending team building retreats are examples of the old school methods. The new school methods are less expensive and possibly less time-consuming for businesses, and it may be possible to persuade workers to do it on their own time because it's fun.
The problem is, while networking is valuable and relationships build business, a lot of what's done at Twitter or Facebook is neither networking nor relationship building. Meeting people who share your interests and can swap ideas and information -- or services and referrals -- is not the same as dropping your link into the ether and pretending you're networking.
Social media optimization
Social media optimization is getting more important than it was before.
It doesn't hurt to try it...
I've been utilizing social media to market my safety and security web site and to raise awareness for it's products for some time now and it doesn't hurt to give it a try. Contacts can be made that turn into customers, as Dell found out, so dedicating a few hours each day or week shouldn't really hurt any brick and morter business if they want to see if it will work.
Facebook for Teenager Demographic
I had a hard time convincing the owners to use Facebook, especially since our products (promise jewelry) were more focused around teenagers.
This was to our advantage though, because a lot of users of Facebook are teenagers and the demographic advertising it perfect for this. After gaining a lot of fans and actually be profitable with Facebook advertising, they are now firm believers in it. We are now working on Twitter.
Cheap Advertising
Social Media is a blend of contemporary and opinionated free form, and extremely cheap advertising. Capitalizing off of different media outlets like bookmarking sites, blogs, twitter, facebook are pertinent to any successful marketing campaign. Its not just for kids anymore!
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