Social Media Marketing: It’s Not Just Online

Have you ever tried wading through a Google Alert about “social media”? If so, chances are you’ve found it to be the quintessential information overload – everyone under the sun seems to have an opinion about it so I thought I’d join the fun with what I hope is on a side of social media that very few people talk about: “real-world” implementation.

Has anyone else noticed that so many of the “big brands” are utilizing social media in their advertising campaigns – whether it’s on TV, radio or print, many have direct references and calls to action to check out a Facebook or YouTube page.

So what’s the point? Put simply, it continues the audience interaction and conversation. What would have been limited to that print, radio or TV consumption, now has the opportunity to continue through social media.

But this strategy should not be limited to larger brands. For every business, social media marketing should never end with the online communication – just like an email, phone number or mailing list, social media is a critical component of regular customer communication.

So what does that mean?

To answer that question with another question: Why would someone want to engage with your business through social media? Special offers, events, discounts and information they find entertaining or insightful are just some of the many ways to create a reason for your customers to join your social media movement.

So how do you let them know?

Some ideas/places include:
• At the cash register
• On your shopping bags
• On your website
• On your business cards
• In your email signature
• On your blog