Anyone who knows me knows that I love lists. So imagine my delight when I read Chris Brogan's "50 Ways Marketers Can Use Social Media to Improve Their Marketing." It provides some easy ways of incorporating social media into the mix without having to "reinvent the wheel." In reading this, it strikes me that there are no reasons not to incorporate some of these activities - for the most part, they just require a bit of time with little or no expense.
The ones I particularly love bring a multi-channel approach. Why not plan a campaign around a new product that includes a paper, email offer, live event and a social media strategy? Always remember that people consume information in different ways. This will ensure that you are everywhere you need to be.
Thanks, Chris.
Cheers,
Renay
1 Comment I just came across this great example of how large companies are getting involved with social media. I am a member of CafeMom and got a message from them about a group that focuses on planning kids' birthday parties. When I went out to the site, I saw that it is sponsored by Better Crocker and is a discussion about everything from themes, to cake recipes, to helpful websites. I just listened to a great webinar hosted by Compendium Blogware during which Chris Baggott discussed how to really maximize the benefits of blogging for search. He emphasizes the use of multiple blogs focused on specific keywords. So, for example, if you are focused on sports in your blog, you are better off having a blog for football and another blog for baseball rather than one blog that discusses both. It makes a lot of sense to me. I have always thought of the one corporate blog situation but it is obviously more valuable to get the attention of the engines via very specific search terms in this way. I just came across this great Ning community site called DreamStake, a network for entrepreneurs to connect and share ideas. Very interesting. It's still pretty small but it claims to be highly facilitated and seems to have some interesting topic categories. I have always been a firm believer in blogging and I have been doing it for several years now. I have experienced the benefits of blogging as it relates to an increase in site traffic and search engine optimization. But, I just read a blog post from the president of Compendium Software, Ali Sales, that touched on a few key points. This is something that has always irked me. There are many great, well-designed websites out there. But yet sometimes when I look at certain sites, I am trying to put my finger on something that is wrong, something that detracts from the greatness of the website. I'm always looking for information that will enable marketers to justify budget for social media and online community activities. I think we are finally getting to the point of better measurement of social media initiatives which puts us in a much better position than we were in 2-3 years ago. Of course, it's a double-edged sword because with the current economy, EVERYTHING is in question. I think that if marketing executives look at the results that they achieve - results that impact the bottom line - with the right pieces of the social media pie, they can quickly recognize the value. So this morning I was on a conference call with an organization who is developing a new online community and a question came up about the right balance between content and marketing message: Is it okay to promote my brand through my community? I read a great post today by Vanessa DiMauro. In this post, she discusses "Social Media Predictions for 2009." There are some great insights here and it really echoes everything I have done over the past few years but typically in dribs and drabs. I particularly like the concept of reaching out to a few contacts per week to stay connected to them. I mean, how many of us have contacts out on LinkedIn or elsewhere who they barely recognize by name? I would like to take this opportunity to wish friends, family and everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. This year has been tough but I can also say that I have really learned a lot and grown as an individual and as a professional. That being said, 2009 is about pursuing my passion for online community and social media. Although the economy is tough and there are fewer opportunities, I believe it's important to continue to stay true to what you love to do. | Renay Picard
Marketing professional with a passion for finding new ways to grow the brand and further the cause of thought leadership. ArchivesApril 2009 CategoriesAll |