subject: Online Marketing Communication - Building Targeted Traffic Through Social Networking [print this page] Building huge followings on social networks such as Twitter, and Facebook can result in your online marketing communications reaching the masses faster than any other form of marketing. Twitter allows you to have a relatively unlimited number of followers, whilst Facebook allows five thousand per account, but the power to build a massive and targeted following on both makes them both highly beneficial as marketing tools. More importantly it means viral marketing online has become accessible to all, regardless of technical ability or budget.
The rules to marketing on social networking web sites and reaping the rewards are relatively simple, but forgotten by so many. These "rules" put greater emphasis on the need for you to set yourself apart from the social networking "robots" through offering valuable communications. This is easily done by building meaningful relationships first, then getting people to like, trust and value your information and opinion.
Platforms, like Facebook for example, were conceived to give people the ability to connect with people, socially, who they wouldn't normally get access to. Therefore, the need to focus on helping, listening, getting to know, and marketing to people through indirect and 'out of the box' methods is extremely important.
After all, the term "online communities" should not be used loosely within your marketing efforts as within any community you get out what you put into it. Setting aside time for pure networking with people, making useful and interesting comments on peoples posts, answering questions, and in the case of twitter Re-Tweeting users useful information is truly priceless in terms of building a following.
Undoubtedly, these networks are becoming the number one method for online marketing communication and driving traffic, but as marketers, we need to be sure we don't abuse the very nature of why they were originally created. Just be sure you're targeted with the people you add/follow, and on the flip side, careful not to fall into the socialite trap, thus wasting time. Placing relationship building at the core of your social networking efforts will mean more profits and a better marketing status in the long run.
