The traditional marketing model was to get as many eyeballs on your product or service’s message as possible and hope that a percentage of customers purchase. Yellow pages, radio advertising, direct mail, television commercials, magazine ads, etc.. are examples of these traditional advertising methods. These conventional types of marketing are no more effective as many consumers have become blind to the ‘one way’ messaging. The message has been overdone and people no longer trust advertisers. A recent survey discovered that only 14% of individuals trust ads while 76% of people trust consumer recommendations. Accordingly, more marketers began seeking alternative methods to connect with potential consumers.

Marketing on the Internet was originally made popular through the use of Websites and optimizing the websites through SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION (SEO) techniques. While still an advisable strategy, SEO has been updated by Web 2 2.0 strategies, such as for example social media marketing. Social media is when companies utilize Blogging platforms 2.0 platforms, such as for example blogs, social media sites (like Facebook, Google+, Foursquare, Twitter, & YouTube) and other emerging online marketing tools. The advantage of blogging platforms 2.0 platforms versus traditional method of advertising, and even traditional website marketing, is that it involves ‘two-way communication’, where users are empowered to generate content and companies are incentivized to communicate with their customers.

The times of broadcasting your product or services message out to the masses and hoping for a response have died. People don’t want to obtain nameless, faceless companies. Not merely are consumers watching the ‘man behind the curtain’, however they also wish to know what others say about your product or service. A recent study figured 80% of US Internet using moms were influenced by word-of-mouth from family and friends when making a purchase decision. Personal Development allows for small businesses to reap the benefits of consumer word of mouth advertising like social media.

Benefits Of Social Media Marketing

Increased New Customer Acquisitions – The main advantage of social media marketing is that you’ll have the opportunity to connect with networks of potential prospects that you would otherwise struggle to come across utilizing other traditional marketing techniques and even SEO.

Word of Mouth Marketing- Referral marketing has always been the most influential solution to generate sales. With social media marketing, you are able to create raving fans who will voluntarily promote your product and services to their networks of friends. Of course, if your service or product is poor, you may suffer the reverse great things about this.

Brand Awareness – Branding your business using social media marketing is much simpler, faster, and less costly to achieve compared to the traditional advertising medium as well as website marketing.

Customer Retention – Web 2 2.0 platforms will be the perfect places to talk to your customers about new products, special promotions, or merely to educate them on your own business. Through consistent, FREE communication, it is possible to keep your company in front of your customer’s eyeballs which will in turn lead to repeat business and referrals. Remember, the key to this type of communication is usually to be content rich; avoid these avenues to pitch your service or product.

Rapid Results – The effective and successful implementation of a social media plan will create almost instant results for the business. This increase can be quantified through increased site traffic, increased lead acquisition, and ultimately increased sales. Unlike radio or TV ads, where your visitors disappear once the ads set off air, these blogging platforms 2.0 platform benefits will continue long-term provided that the communication and updating of your social media marketing presence is maintained.