subject: Using Social Media Marketing to Get The Word Out [print this page] Using Social Media Marketing to Get The Word Out
Every company must advertise to tell their potential clients the products they offer, sales that save the consumer money or just stay connected to their communities. However, today's technology offers options to expand business nationally or world-wide and optimized advertising to keep a company visible in the public's eye.
The online advertising craze started with blasting emails to wide audiences of people in order to build interest in particular products or services. In recent years, this has become known as spam mail and is usually blocked by most email programs. This prevents the company from getting their message across, resulting in stagnant sales and profits.
Today, other options exist that allow a business to advertise their products and services while not being too intrusive to the consumer. Social media sites allow the consumer to receive targeted messages alerting them to special sales items, rebates and general information about a company.
To add interest, presentations are presented in the form of videos on sites such as YouTube. The videos can demonstrate how a product works, different uses for specific products or simply inform the consumer of the benefits the product offers. In addition, the videos can be linked or shared on other social media sites.
Facebook allows a user to "like" their favorite company sites or product manufacturers in order to receive product updates or notices of new products coming to the market. In addition, many companies offer money-off coupons to those that are attached to their internet sites. Instructions for use of specific products are available by attaching the videos created for YouTube.
Consumers are able to leave feedback on products, services and quality of products on the company Facebook home page. This allows a company to make changes to improve the services and products offered as well as allowing the consumer to "share" the business site for even more advertising power. This marketing with social media allows for automatic messages programmed to be sent, advising of upcoming sale items or new products offered.
Other sites allow for instant posting of messages that advertise on-the-spot sales or future increases in prices to allow the consumer to purchase before the rise in price.
For example, Twitter allows businesses to "tweet" their active customers with a lower price on particular items, bringing the consumer into their stores or to an internet site for purchases. Increasing store or site traffic in this manner often brings sales of other items the consumer may be looking for, increasing profit.
Social media for businesses is now a common technique for marketing. No matter which site is chosen, there are options to connect one site to another for constant flow of business information, product or service information and sales promotions.
The consumer is more informed for product choice and desired service options, allowing the company to expand their sales as well as their reputation as a desirable company. Use of social media marketing offers many possibilities in business promotion and in meeting the needs or wants of the consumer. A business is no longer just the "corner store," but just around every corner
