Jump in to Social Media, Denver!

Ho-Hum Words, Exciting Concept

Boring words?  “Content marketing.” Exciting concept?  Content marketing.  Yep. Same two words. It’s almost impossible to escape social media marketing’s dependance and effectiveness content marketing.

Content marketing is perhaps the most pervasive and, some would say, really one of the few effective marketing approaches still available for Denver-based clients.

What about all the other media options?

Think about that for a moment.  Newspaper ads?  As fewer people read actual print newspapers (Strike 1!), fewer advertisers use newspapers to market their products and services (Strike 2!) resulting in less ad revenue for newspapers, shuttering or diminishing many of them (Strike 3).   TV advertising?  Are you using your Tivo or DVR to record commercials?  In fact, last week Dish Network announced a new service called “Hopper” that allows you to completely skip commercials on recorded prime-time shows.

All in all, traditional marketing, while still effective in some areas, is losing its effectiveness in others.

So, what do you do?

Can you utilize social media for marketing?  For many in Denver, the ability to effectively use Social Media may ultimately determine the profit margin, if not the very survival, of their business.

So, now what?  How do you create compelling, persuasive content for your social media marketing?  The most important rule here is to write to your niche audience and make sure they can find it when they need it.

Here are 8 things to remember, plus a bonus one for free.  (Wait, what?  We’re giving free advice? Who’s idea was that?).  Here we go:

1. They’re called “social” networks for a reason. Short of joining several associations and attending gala affairs at the Denver Hyatt each night, these networks enable you to connect with potential customers on a social, interactive basis.  Find out which platforms your “best” (most active, most profitable) customers are engaging with and communicate with them there.

Tip: While there are over 400 categorized Social Networking Sites active globally, the most useful ones are probably Facebook (if you are focused in a Business-to-Consumer category), and LinkedIn (if you are Business-to-Business category) with Twitter and YouTube helping to grow your connections with either group).

Remember, social media credibility takes time to show results (because you are building relationships which don’t happen overnight).

P.S. Don’t forget that your own blogs are one of the most effective things you can do to be found on the internet.

2. Cross pollinate social networking platforms.  If you are active on more than one platform, make sure your messaging is consistent across all of them. otherwise you’ll have some ‘splainin’ to do when people start to blog about inconsistencies in your messaging (and they will).
3. If you build it, they will come.   Consider social media success as much art as science.  Research popular blogs and websites that focus on your topics and determine why they are popular.  Then use what you learn for your own success.  Remember, we all want to be amused, entertained, educated, and engaged.
4. Create.  Whether you write a blog or produce an instructional video, the idea is to make it entertaining/beneficial enough so that people will keep coming back for more.
5. Pump up the volume!  Maximizing marketing effectiveness requires attention-grabbing headlines, subtitles, keywords that fit the story you’re trying to tell and tools that enable people to share your content (e.g., hyperlinks).  Social media marketing without pop is like a shark that stops swimming-it soon dies.
6. “Mobilize” your efforts. Your content must be accessible (formatted) for PC/Mac desktops, laptops, and smart-phones, tablets and other PDAs.
7. Don’t rest on your laurels.   Wrote a great piece?  Posted an awesome video?  Well, only if your audience thinks so!  Monitor your feedback (are you seeing increases your followers, “likes” and connections?) and make keep making improvements based on that feedback.
8. Rinse and repeat.  Determine what works.  Get rid of what doesn’t.  Give your prospects and clients what they want.
9. And the bonus tip?  Your ego is not always your amigo.  No matter how intelligent, competent, creative, revolutionary your ideas are, “they don’t mean a thing if they ain’t got that swing” that your clients and prospects want to dance to!