Social Media Marketing

I’m sure you’ve heard the term “Social Marketing”

This is one way of describing it

In actuality Social Media Marketing is a new “branch” in Internet Marketing, generating publicity
and exposure by joining an online community as an active member.
It also involves writing Blogs, Reviews (at sites like StumbleUpon), and commenting on other blogs posts.

When you join a Social media website, you are presented with the option of becoming part of an online network.
The networks will usually be defined by Regional preferences, or Interest Based Selection.
Within these networks you will find it easier to promote any agenda you might have, since you share the
interest with your network members.
On those websites you will usually be able to blog, on most of them you can import your own websites,
and on some you can even get stats through, as well as share files, links or thoughts, and chat
with friends/colleagues.

Its been a long time now that marketers have been using social networks and online communities to target
potential customers. Once you are in the network you can see your friends friends, and their friends, and
so on. These people most likely have things in common with you.
The communication is Viral, Tag-based at many times, for more exposure layers.

One of the biggest advantages of Social media marketing is that it fits Any Budget.
Social networks are, in most cases, Free!
On most of them you can also get extra exposure by paying a small fee.

Another Huge advantage is the Social Websites High Profile.
Social Media Marketing sites assist your websites Search Engine Rank by including links to your site
in additional places.

Now, what about building your online reputation?
Social Media websites usually allow feedback or reviews/recommendations from other browsers.
Then, as time goes by, and you have more and more people linking to you, or reviewing your website,
your websites exposure will also grow, because it will be considered valid and high quality.

Diving In
You can start with a simple free blog, which then you can add to your social network profile.

Twitter
Twitter is like the status change function on FaceBook, or a blog.
You create a profile and follow some people by searching interests, usually the people you follow will follow
you back – Then seeing everything you update in your Twitter.

FaceBook
On FaceBook you can create a fan page for your business.
On that page “fans” can post comments, photos, events and videos while all the time having easy access
to your information and products. Users can also post Reviews on your page, and start discussions.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a more professional social website. You can create a businesses profile, which can include a wide range
of information. You can display company statistics, location, description, and pretty much all you choose to let
people know.
On LinkedIn you can attach yourself to other not only by interest or industry. Even employees of the business
can create individual professional profiles and become connected to the business. The recommendation
section is a good place to nurture on this particular website…

StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon is a great social network. You can register to the network, filling in your interests in the process,
and then you can start “Stumbling”.
Stumbling is surfing through random pages that are tagged and matching your interest list, and you can give
them “Thumbs Up” or “Thumbs Down”. Listing your website (or websites) on StumbleUpon will start people
stumbling it, and rating it (they can also give a short review), you will get more exposure, and the more
people give your website a Thumbs Up the more it will be valued – And therefore shown.

Well this is a list of some very “Heavy” Social Websites, you can start there..
Pretty soon you might be also Digging, Teching, Del.is.ousing and so on.

Specifically For Marketers – Social Network for Marketers.

Cheers!