DMD's Top Marketing Tips from Social Media Camp

Posted by Melanie Bender on June 5 at 12:00 AM As part of Internet Week New York, yesterday DMD attended Social Media Camp, a convening of experts and practicioners exploring how social media can help your business.

Among other things, we learned PR and marketing is getting a bad rap - We're not that bad, are we? - because customers are tired of feeling like people are trying to take their money.   Rather than seeking [oft unsuccessfully] to push sales, with social media there is a shift to helping people buy and make an educated decision.  Beyond that, social media offer the possibility of actually improving your product through co-creating, by having meaningful conversations with your market and actually learning what people want.

The opportunity in social media is so much more than advertising, so don't look at it as just another marketing channel.  Don't know where to start?  Below are our top takeaway tips from the session to help anyone get started.

Top Social Media Marketing Tips:

1. Don't think that by getting on social media you will change the personality of your company, it can only express what your company already is.  Does your culture allow you to create that relationship?
2. Put the emphasis on being helpful rather than trying to push sales.  Knoweldge marketing: use the insights you have on the topic to attract and help others.
3. Spend the time researching and finding out who you want to have relationships with; your total market isn't just your target customer... it's also stakeholders, your employees, competitors, past customers, and current customers.
4. Think about how you can help and encourage those people to tell your story.
5. Talk WITH your customer, not AT them - give timely, thoughtful, personal responses; don't be a customer service rep reading from a script.
6. Ask questions of your audience to understand them; showing that you are here for THEM and to be a part of their community will help to earn their trust.
7. Don't stop investing in customers at point of purchase: often 80% of profits will come from 20% of customers.  Continue the conversation and take that opportunity to turn a one-time buyer into a loyal customer.
8. Got a negative response? Don't miss that opportunity to convert them. Respond to their complaint.  With your next release tell them how you are responding to their issue.

Topics: interactive, media, public relations        SHARE: