effective ways to market online
In recent weeks I met with a B2B company to discuss marketing options. The topic of community and social media came up and I was reminded of how difficult it has been for the B2B segment of businesses to grasp a hold of the power in social media when one business is marketing to another. The value has still not been understood. They still view this type of marketing as not relating to them, when in actuality social marketing is becoming one of the most effective ways to market online.
In today’s economy B2B companies are decreasing their marketing dollars and spending more online. A recent survey by B2B Magazine revealed that over 48% of those surveyed were increasing their online marketing spend.
Why is there such an effectiveness in social media?
Truth is, so many people are tired of “marketing speak.” Social media allows companies to relate to one another and bypass the fluff.
Let’s take a look at what the online definition of social media, I’ve chosen to use the definition from wikipedia since it is user generated.
Social media describes the online technologies and practices that people use to share opinions, insights, experiences, and perspectives with each other. Social media can take many different forms, including text, images, audio, and video. Popular social mediums include blogs, message boards, podcasts, wikis, and vlogs.
The definition alone should reveal to you how important it is that B2B companies explore social media marketing channels.
In a recent study done by KnowledgeStorm of B2B technology decision makers the following statistics were revealed:
- 90% Participate in Video
- 80% Participate in Blogs
- 80% Participate in Wikis
- 69% Participate in Social Networks
- 53% Participate in Podcasts
support your business’s in marketing
Explore strategies and techniques that you can use on the Internet that will enhance and support your business’s overall marketing objectives. Learn how to conduct banner promotions, generate targeted online traffic, positioning your content, and over all brand awareness.
- Social Media Marketing: Mind Your Manners
It’s true you will not find a list of dos and don’ts when it comes to social media marketing, but you must mind your manners in order for your efforts in social marketing to be successful. Social media marketing is about interaction, interaction creates relationships and those relationships open up the opportunity for you to share information about your products and services. Good manners is essential when it comes to interacting with others using social media networks as a marketing tool.
- Marketing Online: Men and Women Use the Internet Differently
We know that when it comes to the way men and women shop; it’s different. Men waltz into a store to gather what they came for while women will take the time to browse and explore the new products that have been introduced in the isles. The same is true when it comes to the online behavior of men and women; gender stereotypes apply. Take a few moments to learn how both men and women use the internet and how that information can help you in positioning your product or service.
Marketing and Advertising Avoid Errors and Seize Opportunities
Marketing and advertising is like a double-edged sword. If the fee is used effectively, consistently, and systematically, marketing and Advertising can be a fire that burns your business growth.
On the other hand, marketing and advertising, if approached with a sloppy, sporadic, and the way that is not realistic, it can drain your bank account, produce disappointing results, and – in the worst case scenario – lead to business failure.
Marketing and Advertising Avoid Errors and Seize Opportunities
Half the struggle in using marketing and advertising to your advantage is to avoid common mistakes that many small business owners make in developing what may be loosely referred to as advertising and marketing campaigns.
Here are two key pitfalls to avoid when launching a marketing and advertising campaign
- Target all marketing and advertising efforts: If your intended target market is a senior citizen or a housewife or a new bride or parents, then do whatever it takes to reach certain groups. Most of the products and services have one or more target market. Advertising and marketing that is not spent to achieve the target or niche market may represent money wasted.
- Start conservatively. Marketing and advertising spend cautiously, at first, until you discover, through experimentation, what works. Words have a lot of power in sales, marketing, and advertising, so consider either hiring a professional copywriter or – if you have time and interest – to learn the basic principles of copywriting and advertising success, myself. Here are some resources to consider if you want to learn how to avoid being ‘do not understand copywriter