Social Media and Its Effect on Internet Marketing
Social media is the platform of choice for any serious internet marketer.
By becoming part of a social media site, an internet marketer taps into a global market which numbers in the millions.
This instant access to a global audience is what internet marketers use to get their message, product, or services across.
And the best thing of all is that, it's free.
Top social networking websites Facebook Facebook in the past few years have overtaken its older social media cousins and has become the big kid on the social media block.
Even late last year, the site has overtaken internet giant Google as the most visited site on the internet.
Aside from being a regular social media site, Facebook have numerous apps, games, and widgets which keep their users glued to their site.
Twitter Unlike most social networking sites, Twitter uses a different approach called micro blogging.
Think of it as you sending an MSM message to all of your mobile phone contacts.
Though accused as boring during its first few years, Twitter has now become one of the most powerful websites on the net.
LinkedIn This social networking site also takes a different approach when it comes to social interaction over the net.
LinkedIn leans more to professional contact building compared to the casual approach by its peers.
Think of LinkedIn as your virtual calling card.
Dos and don'ts of social media If you think that the use of social media sites gives you instant results, then you are wrong.
Remember, these are just mediums, and not an ATM machine.
Just like in real world marketing, presentation, product quality, and imaging are also at play here.
Successfully navigating your way through these factors and using them to your advantage is what can turn these sites into cash cows for you.
Social media netiquette 101 Do not hard sell Just like in real world sales, hard selling turns people off.
Put yourself in the shoes of a social media user, someone adds you as a contact, and right after you accepted the invitation, he or she then sends you a message about the product that he or she is selling.
It's annoying right? There is nothing wrong with telling people who you are selling something.
Just do it in a discreet manner.
Build relationships It's easier to sell something to a friend than a total stranger right? Look at your contacts as virtual friends and not just potential customers.
By building real relationships with your contacts, they get to know more about you and the work that you do.
The end result of this is that they will become your extended marketing wing.
Regardless if they buy something from you or not, they will tell other people about you.
Why, because you are their "friend".
Be active This is one of the most important things an internet marketer must do.
Being active within a social media site is what can make or break your social media marketing.
Nothing is more irritating than a contact that just pops up when he or she wants to tell you that he or she has something to offer you at a cheap price.
Personally, I feel abused when I receive those messages.
Being active in social media directly affects the two other things I mentioned above.
You don't need to spend hours on each site; 10 minutes per site would usually do the trick.
Just post interesting contents, update your product info, and send or reply to messages by your contacts.
By becoming part of a social media site, an internet marketer taps into a global market which numbers in the millions.
This instant access to a global audience is what internet marketers use to get their message, product, or services across.
And the best thing of all is that, it's free.
Top social networking websites Facebook Facebook in the past few years have overtaken its older social media cousins and has become the big kid on the social media block.
Even late last year, the site has overtaken internet giant Google as the most visited site on the internet.
Aside from being a regular social media site, Facebook have numerous apps, games, and widgets which keep their users glued to their site.
Twitter Unlike most social networking sites, Twitter uses a different approach called micro blogging.
Think of it as you sending an MSM message to all of your mobile phone contacts.
Though accused as boring during its first few years, Twitter has now become one of the most powerful websites on the net.
LinkedIn This social networking site also takes a different approach when it comes to social interaction over the net.
LinkedIn leans more to professional contact building compared to the casual approach by its peers.
Think of LinkedIn as your virtual calling card.
Dos and don'ts of social media If you think that the use of social media sites gives you instant results, then you are wrong.
Remember, these are just mediums, and not an ATM machine.
Just like in real world marketing, presentation, product quality, and imaging are also at play here.
Successfully navigating your way through these factors and using them to your advantage is what can turn these sites into cash cows for you.
Social media netiquette 101 Do not hard sell Just like in real world sales, hard selling turns people off.
Put yourself in the shoes of a social media user, someone adds you as a contact, and right after you accepted the invitation, he or she then sends you a message about the product that he or she is selling.
It's annoying right? There is nothing wrong with telling people who you are selling something.
Just do it in a discreet manner.
Build relationships It's easier to sell something to a friend than a total stranger right? Look at your contacts as virtual friends and not just potential customers.
By building real relationships with your contacts, they get to know more about you and the work that you do.
The end result of this is that they will become your extended marketing wing.
Regardless if they buy something from you or not, they will tell other people about you.
Why, because you are their "friend".
Be active This is one of the most important things an internet marketer must do.
Being active within a social media site is what can make or break your social media marketing.
Nothing is more irritating than a contact that just pops up when he or she wants to tell you that he or she has something to offer you at a cheap price.
Personally, I feel abused when I receive those messages.
Being active in social media directly affects the two other things I mentioned above.
You don't need to spend hours on each site; 10 minutes per site would usually do the trick.
Just post interesting contents, update your product info, and send or reply to messages by your contacts.
