Social media marketing is a recent component of organizations’ integrated marketing communications plans. Integrated marketing communications is a principle organizations follow to connect with their targeted markets.In the traditional marketing communications model, the content, frequency, timing, and medium of communications by the organization is in collaboration with an external agent. Social media marketing can greatly benefit any business as it compliments your brand, business and online profile.

Social Media Marketing differs from traditional product and service marketing, in that it does not depend on a mere unidirectional relationship between the advertiser and the consumer. Rather, the ultimate goal of Social Media Marketing is to, in essence, plant a seed and have the generated interest lead to conversations between people about your product and/or service.

A successful Social Media Marketing campaign must be designed in such a way as to create a buzz. In order for this to occur, the marketer must work beyond merely creating a banner and having a social media site host it. In a sense, Social Media Marketing is something that works along a continuum and is ever-evolving. The success of such a campaign depends wholly on the marketer’s ability to entice social network users to discuss and promote a product.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING?
Perhaps the most significant benefit of Social Media Marketing is the fact that – especially considering the number of users of networks such as Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter – the possibilities for exposure and growth are limitless. Moreover, one cannot ignore the speed and ease with which news is able to spread among users of social networking sites and beyond.

HOW CAN I CREATE AND FOSTER AN EFFECTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING STRATEGY?

When considering how to first approach a Social Media Marketing strategy, it is of the utmost importance to understand your audience and the kinds of products/services that they are interested in. For instance, if your customers are the type to readily participate in online social networks, it may be beneficial to add a blog to your company website. In addition, you may request that interested employees add information/blog articles to your company site to generate interest – never forgetting to add the company logo and other features which will identify your brand into these entries.

Another way to use the popularity of social networking to the advantage of your corporation is to perhaps join one or more of the most popular social networking sites and begin discussions, groups, etc. around your relevant products and services.

SHOULD I CONSIDER SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING AS PART OF MY MARKETING STRATEGY?
Many companies have seen a profound benefit to their bottom line from adding Social Media Marketing into their given marketing plans/strategies. Remember, Social Media Marketing is the future of online advertising, and in comparison to marketing in print or other media, is relatively effortless and inexpensive. Taking all of this into consideration, it becomes apparent that there is no reason not to at least attempt to integrate Social Media Marketing into your current marketing strategy and reap the benefits of this new medium.
Another reason why social media marketing is beneficial for your online business is that it helps to keep people interested with regular updates. Create a Facebook page and get them to subscribe and then keep it updated and you will encourage them to not only visit your page regularly but also your website. Get them to follow you on Twitter and you can also keep them updated regularly. The more people visit your website, the more likely they are to purchase your products and services.
If you are not yet using social media to promote your online business then start today.
Photo credit: editorsweblog.org