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5 beginner tips for social media marketing

A Media Share Post:

This HubSpot article is a brief synopsis of 5 elements to think about in the Social Media Marketing Space.

In the article incites on the following topics
1. Identify Your Market & Listening
2. Engaging in the party and getting involved.
3. Give to the community, its not a Me world.
4. Learn the tools and dress for the party
6. Measure your success, know what works for you

Good basic things to think about when going social in your advertising, marketing and pr spaces.
http://ping.fm/cbs1G

Shhhh Social Media The Secret Builder- Are You Talking?

Shared from twitterverse this video reinforces that as a small business you are positioned to compete with the big players within your community space.

What is it going to cost you to compete?

Time & Passion thats it

So while the big guys buy static space ads, yellow pages, and are standing alone and talking to a empty room, and are slow in adopting trends and communication methods, if your investing in talking within your communities... well

Watch the video, I could not say it better than Gary ok I would a little more cleaner in language but that aside

Warning there is some strong language

Social Speaking Green business market landscape

Much of corporate landscape believe that green business policies have sweeping benefits—for the environment, competitive and financial position.

Read the below corporate survey results by By Robbin S. Goodman

* Markets and consumers are overwhelmingly concerned about climate change and its potential impact on the quality of life for future generations (80%);

* Pro-environmental policies improve corporate or brand reputation (75%), make business more competitive (73%), strengthen sales and ROI (67%), and improve employee recruitment and retention (58%);

* Actions taken by corporations can, in fact, effect positive change in the environment (61%).
--- survey end ---


As world mindsets are going green they are also more savvy to "green washing" by companies and products just to capture buzz. A challenge for marketers, or ad agencies that are asked to implement a campaign that is in actually a "green wash"

Keep in mind that there are very passionate green consumers and if the discover the "wash" they will be very vocal within their discovery and this ill will can spread up to 80% of the market. It is our duty to avoid these circumstances as the results could not only cost the client but your agency reputation as well because you are willing to blur the lines. (todays market is about trust factor)

Communicating these forward thinking policies or utilizing them to build brand, loyalty or perceived value in product and company requires thoughtful implementation, transparency and accuracy in behaviors. How this can be done is through provable neutral reports, research, certifications from creditable sources to back up marketing claims. For internal business mindset, do you have a documented "green plan" had it evaluated by a eco consultant or LEED expert. What is really green about your business, there is a world of difference between a little green vs totally eco friendly environments for employees or products.

So when "going green" be able to walk the walk, talk the talk and back it up with facts.

The future is bright for the "Green Market Place"
On the consumer/employee side if perception in "green value" is there projected green business futures are brite as according to Environmentalleader.com projected consumer spend is estimated to reach $500 billion (findings from the 2007 ImagePower Green Brands Survey)

What this means to green marketing agencies, pr and advertising agencies is that there is an increased need to help the green industry communicate their brand message, product or services, making being green truly green for all those involved.

Socially Speaking Mac vs. PC Messaging Tactics And Advertising Exploration.

Reputation, value and market share wars between Microsoft's PC and Apple's Mac platforms is like an ongoing tv drama. Intrigue, affairs of the heart, calamities and finger pointing and suspense.

The Story Backdrop

Bill & Steve at onset were at two different points with the markets they were targeting with pc servicing the business use and Mac servicing creative but the path in the distance was set to converge as consumers did not want to be restricted to one box. Business's wanted to be creative and creatives wanted to do business.

Without going though the long history of the two systems I'll use the analogy of ice cream vanilla vs chocolate. Now the two platforms systems and perifreals that drive them are now like a scoop of each in the same cup, pc's can be creative and Mac's can mean business. They have reached the point of convergence - a cup of mocha.

No where is it more evident that neither of them want to share cup or path. So how do they differentiate, saga style of course.

Let the advertising wars begin

To date the story each antagonist(pc & mac) has told runs the gamut of emotions all played to the channel watchers mindsets. From ego to frustration, love and dislike, inclusion to exclusionary each is turning up the volume and enlisting the aid of their viewers, seeking to create loyalty, identification. Enter in divide and conquer.

This said, I would like to explore the current Ad campaign "The Mac vs PC" I would like your opinion and incites beyond the surface. To do this below are a few of the stories being told via their commercials.

Thoughts to ask yourself:

• Is the message accurate and does it influence choice in brand?
  
• Which just based on commercials addresses wants, needs problems & offer solutions?
  
• Is public display is more entertainment in nature and does it influence choice?
  
• Does messaging create conflict in market mindset.
  
• Is there a reverse effect? Meaning does it divide and conquer or just create awareness for both?
  
• Messaging more ego based than value, feature or price based?
  
• Which communicates to a larger segment mindset?
  
• Given choice, at point of purchase, both options have the same features but price differential which brand would be chosen? (did commercials influence choice)
  
• From a social media standpoint who's commercials engage their audience - is one more of a two way conversation than the others?
  

To begin see some of the previous commercials 15 shorts:



Now See Others Entering the mix upis this format diluting the brands reach by copycat style?






Format Opens up to other opinions Negative: messaging creating a divide in mindsets - do they bare weight or influence?

Mac Killed this guys inner child





Tit for Tat - Were these evident to market.

Restart - pc crashing is a thread within the mac ad's - truth in comparison?





Tribe engagement - in the below two videos Microsoft is engaging its audience with upload your I'm a pc ad's also, notice no mention of other brand, creating a singular focus.



Social Identification & participation - is this format effective for identification with brand, engaging and loyalty building? Back to beginning paragraph notice messaging addresses the convergence factor of doing business & being creative.



What will be Mac's response? What do you think would be effective? Should Mac drop PC exposure from its follow up ad's?

Should Mac change its direction to appear more friendly? Most ad's are entertaining but outwardly focused on PC fault finding. Should they position to a Mac & Me mindset communicating to their audience directly?

The story continues: