Social Networking Via Websites and Blogs

Social Media Marketing

Just a few years ago, many business leaders questioned if social media marketing could provide them with a significant return on their investment. As the popularity of social networking sites has continued to soar, the early adopters of social media marketing who embraced strategies for attaining website traffic through the networking sites, have reaped many rewards. As described in Wikipedia, “Social networking websites allow individuals to interact with one another and build relationships. When products or companies join those sites, people can interact with the product or company.” That interaction feels personal to users because of their previous experiences with social networking site interactions.

Social networking sites and blogs allow individual followers to “˜retweet’ or “˜repost’ comments made by the product being promoted. By repeating the message, all of the user’s connections are able to see the message, therefore reaching more people. Social networking sites act as word of mouth. Because the information about the product is being put out there and is getting repeated, more traffic is brought to the product/company.

Through social networking sites, products/companies can have conversations and interactions with individual followers. This personal interaction can instill a feeling of loyalty into followers and potential customers. Also, by choosing whom to follow on these sites, products can reach a very narrow target audience.

Social Sites and Cell Phones 

Cell phone usage has also become a benefit for social media marketing. Today, many cell phones have social networking capabilities: individuals are notified of any happenings on social networking sites through their cell phones, in real-time. This constant connection to social networking sites means products and companies can constantly remind and update followers about their capabilities, uses, importance, etc. Because cell phones are connected to social networking sites, advertisements are always in sight. Also many companies are now putting QR codes along with products for individuals to access the company’s website or online services with their smart-phones.

Social Web Engagement

In the context of the social web, engagement means that customers and stakeholders are participants rather than viewers. Social media in business allows anyone and everyone to express and share an opinion or idea somewhere along the business’s path to market. Each participating customer becomes part of the marketing department, as other customers read their comments or reviews. The engagement process is then fundamental to successful social media marketing.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media_marketing

The Difference Between Social Media Marketing and Social Media Optimization     

“While social media optimization is related to search engine marketing, it differs in several ways. Primarily, SMO focuses on driving traffic from sources other than search engines, though improved search ranking is also a benefit of successful social media optimization. Social media optimization is in many ways connected to the technique of viral marketing where word of mouth is created not through friends or family but through the use of networking in social bookmarking, video and photo sharing websites.”

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media_optimization

 

For help with social media marketing and social media optimization strategies, please contact Cornerstone Consulting at 813-321-1300.  Too busy to call now?  No worries! If you complete a super brief Contact Us form and let us know the best times to reach you,  we will call you at a time that is convenient for your schedule.

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