Like those inkblot images that psychologists are so fond of, social media marketing can mean entirely different things to different organizations. For some, it’s a way to new revenue and customers; for others, it’s a way to spread things like reviews, customer service information, and referrals from satisfied buyers.
Despite these differences in strategy and approach, however, there are some general rules we can point to for social media marketing success. In fact, we can pick out tips and ideas that have worked for all kinds of businesses across different industries and areas, and then see where they apply. There is still some room for variation, of course, but it only makes sense to plan and execute your campaigns based on proven and trusted ideas.
With that in mind, here are three rules for social media marketing success in 2012:
1. Pick core messages and themes to center on. While your social profiles are never going to read like a book, going from start to finish, there should be some central themes and ideas that come up time and time again. That doesn’t just help customers to know what to expect from you on sites like Facebook and Twitter, but also to get a sense of where your competitive strengths lie. Spend some time brainstorming themes that are important to you and your customers, and then make sure they pop up regularly in your updates and content.
2. Put yourself on a social media marketing diet. That means following some strict rules about the amount of time you spend on social networking sites. Too much time probably means you aren’t paying enough attention to the rest of your business, and could be missing out on other, more profitable opportunities. Spending too little time on social media, conversely, might be a sign that you’re missing out on this important marketing trend.
3. Pay more attention to responses. It’s great to broadcast information and ideas, but make sure you aren’t so busy sending updates out that you lose track of the feedback you’re getting from customers. By paying attention to the topics, themes, and ideas that start the most discussions, or generate the highest numbers of responses, you can tap into the things that your buyers are thinking about. That’s valuable insight, on social media or elsewhere.
Follow these three rules, and you’ll have a lot easier time keying in on the social media marketing strategy that’s right for your company. Or better yet, why not schedule a free consultation with us and get started on putting together a social media marketing plan that gives your bottom line a boost?
By David A. West Join me on Google+