17 Aug 10 Social Media Marketing – Which tool is favorite and which is not

In this article I will show you which social media tools are hot and which are not among big daddies of the business world. Well, I do not know it myself until I read the finding of MarketingSherpa Social Media Marketing Benchmark Survey.

The report suggests that very few company ventures out of their comfort zone build by their branded online community, which in my view could be very limiting in scope. In the survey 78% of the respondents said that the primary social media marketing tool that they use is participating in “company branded” or managed social networks like their Facebook fan page, LinkedIn profile, etc.

Another 63% of the respondents told that they prefer using micro blogging tools like twitter, Jaiku, and plurk, but only if it is “company branded”. 63% said they share multimedia contents – obviously “company branded” – with people on YouTube, Flickr, and SlideShare, etc. That is not all, another 59% said that they blog, but only on “company branded” or managed blogs. (See image for complete report).

As far as I can tell this is very limiting. By doing this, a company is limiting its focus on their existing customers, who are already sold. Customer retention using social media could be a good strategy, but doing only that is being myopic. The company should add plans to talk to non-committed people as well to this social media marketing mix. For this, the company will have to venture out of “company branded or managed” social media marketing tools.

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Tags: Benchmark Survey, Blogging Tools, Business World, Comfort Zone, Customer Retention, Daddies, Existing Customers, Fan Page, flickr, Linkedin, Marketing Mix, Marketing Tool, Marketing Tools, Media Marketing, Media Tools, Multimedia Contents, Respondents, Share Multimedia, Slideshare, Social Networks

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20 Jul 10 How to Increase the Business Sales Figure?

Be it a small business or a big one – increasing the sales figure is never an easy task. But what makes it easy for many to accelerate the sales figure is the knowledge of marketing in the right direction, in the right manner. That’s all it takes to boost up the sales and enjoy a constant growth of business. Follow these marketing tips and find your sales figure moving towards a brighter side.

Attractive advertising

There’s no substitute of attention grabbing, effective advertising. It can be in any media –online yellow page directory, social networking sites, television commercial, radio commercial, poster, hoarding. It just has to draw attention, hold interest, stimulate desire and ultimately induce action that’s purchase decision. It should talk to the right target audience. The visual, the copy should be in sync with the product or service and target audience it’s talking to.

Use your database

Don’t underestimate the database of your clients or prospects. If you have their email addresses, it’s a very important marketing tool for you. Make the most of it by sending periodical e-newsletters, e-mailers to them. It will keep them informed of your new products, contests, offers, achievements. Even the contacts numbers will be of great help to your sales force for cold calling purpose.

You may build liaison with others

You may simply build joint ventures with other companies who are not your competitors. At times tie-up with big well known companies really work out and bring good fortune.

Show the generous side of yours

People always admire generous business men. Make yourself involved with social causes, events, activities. You may fix a deal with a charity organization. You may raise fund and also donate for the cause or event. People will love you for this and will also donate generously.

Build your presence on the web

It’s the age of Internet communication. You just can’t avoid it. Get into online marketing. Participate in forums and discussions. Build your website, blog, social media networking and make your presence felt online.

Become the ultimate authority in your industry

There’s no better way than shouting loud and saying how you are better than others and why people should come to you. It builds visibility, credibility and makes people believe that you are the authority. Get associated with all big happenings in the city. Get seen in newspapers and magazines. Get heard on radio talk shows. Sponsor big events. Call press conferences. Organize seminars. Getting heard, getting seen are routes to getting to the top.

Check the small things of your business

Last but not the least, check small details of your business. Find out if your receptionist attends the call in good manner or not, does your sales force do periodical after sales call or not? Find out the loopholes in the system and fix it immediately. It could be internal or external. Fixing these small things will bring in a big difference.

Find your business shooting up with these simple marketing tips.

Tags: Brighter Side, Business Men, Business Sales, Charity Organization, Commercial Poster, Commercial Radio, Effective Advertising, Generous Side, Good Fortune, Internet Communication, Knowledge Of Marketing, Mailers, Marketing Tips, Marketing Tool, Presence On The Web, Purchase Decision, Right Direction, Social Networking Sites, Target Audience, Yellow Page Directory

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25 Apr 10 Marketers and Social Media Marketing Tool Use Cycle

In a study conducted by SocialMediaExaminer.com it was found that Marketers as a whole prefer twitter (88%) over Facebook (87%) as a marketing tool. The study also suggested that blogs have fallen down from second most-preferred marketing tool in 2009 to number fourth position in 2010, even below LinkedIn. (Read it here).

The study further delved deeper to reveal social media tool usage by marketers at different point in their lives, and it found that the use of social marketing tools vary from newbie marketers to marketers who have some experience.

Social media usage of newbie marketer

In terms of social media usage, the behavior of marketers who is just starting out is a little different from the behavior of all marketers in general. In this group, Facebook is the most used medium. 80% of newbie marketers said Facebook is their first choice, followed by Twitter which 71% marketers use. LinkedIn is used by 67% new marketers, whereas only 43% marketers use blogging as a tool. And other social media marketing tools have not reached critical mass. See image for details.

Social media usage of marketer with some experience

Online Marketers who have some experience of using social media marketing tools follow the industry trend, the usage only differ in the volume term. 92% of marketers in this group said they prefer Twitter, whereas, 88% showed loyalty to Facebook. Rest of the data was almost similar to the industry trend. See image for details.

Social media usage of marketing veterans

Twitter is a preferred tool by almost all the marketers who is in business for more than a couple of years. 96% of respondents falling in this group said they love Twitter, whereas, 91% showed their affection for Facebook. LinkedIn and blogs are also used profusely by this group. LinkedIn is used by 89% of marketing veterans, and blogs are used by 86% of marketing veterans. Even video is used by 61% marketers. See image for detail.

The data suggests that the more experience a social media marketers acquire the more closer it goes to twitter, blogs, and video marketing.

Tags: Affection, Critical Mass, Different Point, Facebook, First Choice, Industry Trend, Linkedin, loyalty, Marketer, Marketers, Marketing Tool, Marketing Tools, Media Marketing, Media Tool, Preferred Marketing, Preferred Tool, Respondents, Social Marketing, Tool Usage, Twitter

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