Feeding the Birds, Tips for Twitter

Just a clever little ditty I found on MSNBC.com this morning – For those still trying to figure it out, there are rules of the road that have emerged over the past two years for twitter users and if you want to have twitter success, you should probably be aware of them.

Here’s the link http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38594141/ns/technology_and_science/

Social Media Advertising, Stay Interesting My Friends

 

I love the ongoing story of “The Most Interesting Man in The World”! I applaud the sheer brilliance of a marketing campaign that is so sure of itself that the product being pitched is never really the story, and yet never far from the conversation.

On the Flipside, The Corona Beer Commercials are just that, an advertisement that makes me long for the beaches and beautiful bodies of sunny Mexico and assures me that even though I can’t make the trip, if I pop a cold one I’ll be that much closer to Nirvana. The intent is to get me to act, not engage.

I bring up these two examples to illustrate a point about what is often referred to or practiced as Social Media Marketing but which in reality more closely resembles Social Media Advertising.

Advertisements, you see, come and go, but a well laid out marketing plan, like a good relationship can endure for decades. My Point being that all too often people jump into “Social Media Marketing” with the sole intent of selling a product or service, not to foster relationships that will survive any commerce that may evolve. The Corona spot is an effective commercial. I see it, I might actually act on the impulse. I might just settle for squeezing a lime in whatever beer I have on hand as well and call it good.

The Most Interesting Man in the World on the other hand is an ongoing conversation. A story about a ”legend” that has already become legendary. There are Facebook Pages and Websites with quotes and expanded story lines, there are chats and tweets. You Tube videos that are watched for the entertainment value and passed around virally on the web. There are Blog posts and Wiki’s dedicated to a man who doesn’t even exist. And people eagerly anticipate the next piece of sage advice uttered from the man who encourages us all to “Stay Thirsty my Friends” and when we drink beer, consider Dos Equis.

Social Media Marketing is more about creating a story line. An ongoing conversation that people can enter and exit when it suits them. A place they seek out because they feel comfortable or engaged enough to visit again and again. Your product or service should simply reside there for consideration, not as part of the story, but never far removed from the conversation.

Seven Fundamentals of Social Network Marketing

Mathew Ferrara published a blog post for Real Estate Agents covering the Seven Secrets of Social Networking. To me they represent more the fundamentals than secrets and they apply to just about any small business working to develop a core of business upon which to build long term. Mathew addresses the most common mistake I see in the application of  ”Social Media” Marketing efforts; that being when a person attempts to commence a sales pitch by thinly disguising it as an interactive conversation. The post does a good job of reminding us to focus our efforts on the interests of the people we are talking with, not at.

Whereas businesses such as Real Estate and Financial Services have long depended on relationships and meaningful communication to grow successfully, more and more businesses are integrating a more social aspect into their marketing efforts and the fundamentals apply universally.

Here’s a quick summary and a link to the post.

It’s networking, not advertising

It’s the same as real life

Conversations involve listening more than talking

Consider your own experience

Share to grow

Ask

Play

All good points to keep in mind as you approach Social Media as a way to Market and grow your business.

Taking Down the Big Guys

As online media continues a steady stream of body blows to traditional media delivery systems, word came this week that media stalwart Newsweek is on the block. And while the purveyors of new media dance on the grave of fallen giants, the struggle to somehow make new media commercially viable for more than just a few rages on,

 

Seth Godin weighs in on how that might come to pass in the foreseeable future. He makes some great points. There’s no doubt that Social Media is exploding in terms of sheer numbers of participants and that tribes really do matter. But, how does Social Media Marketing become economically viable if the audiences keep segmenting smaller and smaller and expecting the bulk of their goods for free via the internet. How do new ideas (and Markets) emerge from among a group of people who all think alike or share the same interests? How does the benefit of differing perspective help shape the final product in this paradigm.

 

The concept of scale seems to offer some hope. That is to say, one doesn’t need many in a community to support an enterprise if you can sufficiently shave the costs of production and delivery. But that doesn’t leave much of an upside and the key to innovation has always been the promise of an upside.

 

The genius of Henry Ford was not so much the Model T or the introduction of assembly line production, but in creating the buyers for his product by allowing them to participate in and profit on the means of production and delivery of a tangible good.

 

An economy only works when you produce a product to sell at a profit and there are buyers willing and able to pay the price. The business of Production and Delivery is still key to creating buyers within the tribe because if we were all just thinkers and thought leaders, nothing would ever get done. 

It is the essence of commerce to emphasize the product you wish to sell through Social Media Marketing, but just as important that others are afforded the opportunity to contribute and profit from it’s creation and delivery in order that they may also particpate in a successful economy.

Posted via email from All Points Marketing Solutions

Oh My, What a Ride

Despite reports that the U.S. economy seems headed toward recovery, the people who lay money on it remain as skiddish as ever. I’ve long felt that those who talked us into the recession are now trying to talk us out of it. Not that that’s a bad thing if it works out. But premature celebrations and baiting unsophisticated investors back into the market too early is asking for trouble. The reservoir of trust is very shallow indeed and this is no time for jumping on the bandwagon if you can’t back up your bet.

The quick hit, high risk bet mentality is alive and well. Liquidity is hard to come by. Thus, those holding positions long in the market were forced to sell because those with nothing to back them up panicked and ran at the first sign of trouble.

The resulting whipsaw of market volatility left even the most experienced traders breathless.

 

As Wayne Dyer once said…. Don’t believe everything you think. 

We’ve still got a long way to go.

Posted via email from All Points Marketing Solutions

Flash Marketing – The Next Big Thing

So, what’s the next big thing on the Social Media Marketing Front – How about Flash Sales and Flash Marketing?

Popularized by the burgeoning ranks of twitter and Driven by the speading popularity of location based Social Networking sites such as Foursqure and Hunch, the concept of Flash Marketing is taking hold. Basically it works like this, once you’ve been located by “checking in”, businesses in the area can target you for immediate benfit. Drive by a Macdonalds and Voila, instant 2 for 1 on a Big Mac for the next 10 minutes. Head past your favorite Pizza joint on your way home and Bam! $5 off Pepperoni and Mushrooms to go if you pick up before 7:00

Flash sales are already gaining traction, traffic - and customers- online, with more than few sites offering limited time deals on coveted wares for their devoted followers. Airlines have limted fare wars, Musicians sell out local concerts and traditional online retailers can spark a frenzy by announcing a sale on the latest must have gizmo.

As more and more people jump online and share their personal likes and desires, business people are more and more willing to reward the behavior and build their business using the lure of solid deals for a limited period of time.

It’s a clever way to build buzz,  loyalty and traffic, because who wants to miss a really good deal that could be gone in a flash?

“Harmless Habits” Can Take a Toll

 Here’s an eye opening article that sheds some light on the little things in your life that may be having a big impact on how you are aging. Give yourself a couple of minutes to find out more on how to live longer, feel better and look your best. Our friends over at Phoenix Wellness Technologies have some good ideas to keep you going strong and looking  good. Become a fan!

Posted via email from All Points Marketing Solutions