Social Media Marketing Monday – 20130708 – Port Macquarie Online Marketing

Hey all, and welcome to this week’s Social Media Marketing Monday. First up this week we have a great article from Social Media Today about how to use one of the most important features of our favourite Social Media software, Hootsuite:

http://socialmediatoday.com/amy-birch/1577721/how-social-keyword-search-can-generate-leads-and-sales

Our takeaway from the article was this – “there are still some social media lovers, who aren’t aware of exactly HOW Hootsuite can help your business.

In this post I’ll explain one of Hootsuite’s best features, which will help boost sales and gather leads for your business; the Keyword Search Stream.”

Get to know how to use the Keyword Search Stream in Hootsuite and it will help you generate more leads and hopefully more sales for your business, and that is why you are using social media, isn’t it? 🙂

Next we have an article from NBC about the Stanley Cup in the States (bear with me a minute you Aussies!) and the comparison to marketing:

Image via CrunchBase

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/inc-well/Scoring-a-Marketing-Hat-Trick-With-Email-Social-Media-and-Events-214144501.html

Here is our takeaway from the article –

“Here are five key maneuvers that will consistently get you into the net and, just like the Blackhawks, you’ll be able to win on the competitor’s ice.

Learn the rules and earn the right to play. The first rule is to always ask permission before adding customers to your email list. From there, be sure to consistently share valuable information that speaks to their interests and needs as opposed to overt selling.
Score big with your best customers. Invest your time in engaging your most active customers. After all, they’re more likely to be the primary source of your word-of-mouth referrals.
Identify your MVP customers. Among your most active customers, a subgroup of raving fans will emerge. Be sure to thank them by sending personalized emails, presenting special offers, and hosting private events that give them an inside edge.
Practice in the off-season. Every business faces timeouts and slower periods in customer activity. Use the time you’re resting on the bench to assess your marketing progress to date and fine-tune your programs so that you’re always at the top of your game.
Play to your strengths. You’ll stand out by showcasing your strengths and differentiators as opposed to playing a “me too” position. Customers will come to you first for your expertise and then you’ll be able to experience a halo effect as they discover your other products.”

Some great advice there! Next up, for the newer users out there, a top article from Business Record on the basics of social media marketing:

http://www.businessrecord.com/Content/Sales—Marketing/Sales—Marketing/Article/Your-Quick-Guide-to-Social-Media-Marketing/180/856/58895

Our takeaway was this quote – “I think most companies have matured into the (social media) space in the sense that they are active, but I still think today many of them are wasting their time,” said Nathan Wright, founder of social media consultant Lava Row Inc. “They don’t have a defined strategy, they don’t have the right people in place to actually execute it, or they are doing it for all the wrong reasons. So I see a lot of participation, but a lot of messy participation.”

Finally this week, another great article from Social Media Today, this time from Gini Dietrich on the dangers of social media marketing — it can be a double-edged sword. If you are doing everything right, your customers will be your best ambassadors, and if you get it wrong, they can harm your business badly!

http://socialmediatoday.com/ginidietrich/1572061/customers-brand-ambassadors-or-enemies-life?

Our takeaway was this quote – “it’s estimated the cost of getting new customers is six to seven times as much as keeping the customers you have.

I’m no math whiz, but these are enough statistics to persuade me that many businesses lose a lot of money by failing to recognize one iron-clad rule of customer service: We buy things from businesses that treat us well, and boycott those that don’t.”

So make sure that all of your staff are aware of the opportunities that social media marketing offer, but also the pitfalls if they get the whole customer experience bit wrong.

That’s it for this week, as always, enjoy your week!