The Titanic: Bad Marketing at its Best.

I thought it would be appropriate to create a marketing post that related to the wonderful Titanic, as it is the 100^th anniversary of its demise this month.  I should add that I am a truly avid Titanic fan (not just of the movie, but of the ship itself).

Old Fashion Marketing

Marketing tactics in the beginning of the 20^th century were very basic and traditional. In fact, Titanic advertisements were limited to print media, such as brochures, flyers, newspaper articles and posters. However, word of mouth advertising also plays a great role in the effective promotional strategy of the ship.

So what was the Titanic marketing team’s main strategy?  I would have to say the infamous slogan of the titanic, which was that the ship was “unsinkable”.

Unsinkable Claims Cause Sinking?

In fact, it was noted in an article by Printwand, that the “unsinkable” claim may actually be considered a factor in the disastrous result of the ship. This campaign’s purpose was to promote the ships overall quality and prestige as a means for targeting first class passengers. However, the claim spread like wildfire and could be seen as creating a false sense of assurance to the crew and captain. As a result, fewer precautions were taken. After all, at the time that the ship hit the iceberg, it was travelling at a speed of 22.5 knots, with 23 knots being the maximum speed possible. Not to mention, it was travelling at this speed in an area known for being populated by icebergs, with 7 iceberg warnings received on April 14th (the day it hit) from various ships in the area.

However, it’s debatable that if the Titanic did not use such a self-assured slogan, would this disaster be held in such high regard? After all, there have been numerous disasters at seas, ones with greater tragedies, which never received as much exposure as the Titanic. In my opinion, the mere irony of advertising the ship as unsinkable and having it sink on its maiden voyage is one reason that  holds great weight for why the ship is still talked of today.

Lest We Forget

Let us all take the time this upcoming April 15^th 2012 to remember the 1517 lives that perished  from the Titanic’s disastrous fate 100 years ago.

Bibliography

Clarkson, A. (n.d.). The Ice Warnings Recieved by the Titanic. Retrieved April 1, 2012, from Titanic-Titanic: http://www.titanic-titanic.com/warnings.shtml

Eszlinger. (n.d.). The Titanic Page: A Site to Remember. Retrieved April 1, 2012, from Eszlinger: http://www.eszlinger.com/titanic/titanfacts.html

Mouronval, A. (2005, November 14). Titanic Image. Retrieved April 1, 2012, from Starway: http://www.starway.org/Titanic/

Printwand. (n.d.). How an ‘Unsinkable’ Marketing Campaign Led the Titanic to Disaster. Retrieved April 1, 2012, from Printwand: http://www.printwand.com/blog/how-unsinkable-marketing-campaign-led-titanic-disaster

The Edwardians Blog. (2011, November 23). Newspaper Image: Titanic Sinks Headlines. Retrieved April 1, 2012, from The Edwardians Blog: http://theedwardians.blogspot.ca/2011/11/titanic-sinks-headlines.html

Titanic Universe. (n.d.). Retrieved April 1, 2012, from Titanic Universe: http://www.titanicuniverse.com/

Look Who’s Talking Now: Tips to Develop or Improve Your Online Presence

All organizations have an online presence, regardless if its image is based on intentional effort or user creations (reviews, recommendations, etc.). Even random mom and pop shops have some online presence, as today’s society is starting to utilize the power of speech via the internet, giving great weight to consumer experiences.

It is critical that organizations are aware of their online presence, so that they can minimize negative talk, or help develop and sustain a good image.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

I’ve wrote before about my favourite web presence tracking site, SocialMention, where keywords can be searched for amongst a substantial size of social media platforms. However, if you’ve used this listening tool and discovered your own organizations online presence, you may wonder where to go from there. I have yet to elaborate on steps subsequent to either improving, or developing an online presence—which is critical. Therefore, I have decided to dive into his hefty subject now.

No One’s Talking—Lets Start a Buzz!

If your online presence is minimal and you want to encourage online conversation try some of the following techniques:

Develop a Blog to create credible/expert talk on your product/services

Engage in Search Engine Optimization (See my previous post “How Do You Spell Findability? S-E-O.”)

Create a corporate social media accounts (Make sure your chosen platforms have the ability to engage or capture your desired target market.)

People Are Talking, But It’s Not What I Want To Hear!

If people are saying negative things about your organization, it is worthwhile to determine the source of problem.

Is it the quality of the service or product? The follow up procedures such as customer service? Or the pre-purchase activities, such as payment options or online accessibility?

Once you figure out what the source of the problem is, you have to find a suitable solution. This solution will differ depending on the issue, but one thing remains constant; communication. Be honest and transparent in your communication efforts with your consumers. Acknowledge their complaints and make it clear you’re looking into a solution (Of course this means you DO have to find a viable solution).

Analyze Then Strategize

Overall, in developing and improving your online presence, you need to have a strategy for your online tactics. It is my best advice to develop a well-rounded marketing strategy that is specific to your online efforts. Start off with a basic SWOT analysis, mix in your budget constraints and determine your overall goals. Feasible online marketing additions or improvements will be the end result of a successful analysis of your current and desired situation.

I hope this post has given all your marketers out there a little boost to look into your brands online image and take my advice to get ahead of the game by listening, understanding and making adjustments.

Bibliography

123rf. (n.d.). Red Dice With Words Inspect Analyze Learn On Faces. Retrieved 2012, from 123rf: http://www.123rf.com/photo_9259496_red-dice-with-words-inspect-analyze-learn-on-faces.html

Miller, M. (2011). The Ultimate Web Marketing Guide. Indianapolis, Indiana: Que Publishing.

Nuanced Media. (n.d.). Reviews Image: How Important are Online Customer Reviews. Retrieved 2012, from Nuanced Media: http://nuancedmedia.com/how-important-are-online-customer-reviews/

Ovsyannykov. (2012, February 02). Thumbs Down Image: Do Negative Reviews Really Hurt You? Retrieved 2012, from Design You Trust: http://designyoutrust.com/2012/02/02/do-negative-reviews-really-hurt-you/

123rf. (n.d.). Red Dice With Words Inspect Analyze Learn On Faces. Retrieved 2012, from 123rf: http://www.123rf.com/photo_9259496_red-dice-with-words-inspect-analyze-learn-on-faces.html

Miller, M. (2011). The Ultimate Web Marketing Guide. Indianapolis, Indiana: Que Publishing.

Nuanced Media. (n.d.). Reviews Image: How Important are Online Customer Reviews. Retrieved 2012, from Nuanced Media: http://nuancedmedia.com/how-important-are-online-customer-reviews/

Ovsyannykov. (2012, February 02). Thumbs Down Image: Do Negative Reviews Really Hurt You? Retrieved 2012, from Design You Trust: http://designyoutrust.com/2012/02/02/do-negative-reviews-really-hurt-you/

Social Mention. (n.d.). Social Mention. Retrieved March 25, 2012, from Social Mention: http://www.socialmention.com/

How Do You Spell Findability? S-E-O.

Many people use search engines like Google or Bing on a daily basis, yet many are unfamiliar with what’s really going on behind the scenes when it comes to using a search engine.

If you own a website, or even a WordPress account like mine, it’s important to understand the concept of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Good SEO practices encourage greater awareness and higher levels traffic—sounds good doesn’t it? It is and as a bonus, it’s pretty easy to learn!

First off, let’s start with a very basic understanding of SEO practices.

What is a Search Engine?

Search Engines (SE) are databases of information that, when asked to search for a keyword or phrase, scan its available content to give the user the most relevant information. A lot of work is put into matching context and content to that of the user’s keywords. In delivering the user information that’s relevant, the SE picks up on keywords, tags, and links to sort through piles of data and return the results.

Of course, companies can pay to have their sites appear at the top of the page, or as pay-per-click advertisements around the sides. However, this blog post addresses how to understand and improve organic, unpaid, search results.

Do They Have Limitations?

Since SE’s aren’t human, they can’t be expected to read all types of content. For example, you may have a picture of an apple on your website, but the SE won’t recognize this image and associate it with a user’s search for the keyword “apple”. This just goes to show that understanding what type of information and content is recognized by SE’s is critical in optimizing the overall performance.

If you’ve ensure that the appropriate keywords and content are being utilizing by your website, then you can improve your standing dramatically. It is a marketer’s nightmare to hear of someone putting great efforts into traditional marketing, then dropping the ball when it comes to creating and sustaining a presence in the online, digital world.

Tips and Tricks

To help improve your personal or professional websites standing in SE databases, take into consideration the following concepts.

1. Have you adding your website and sitemap to Search Engines?

Not everyone is aware of this, but to truly optimize your position in a search engines database, you have to give them the required information. For example, do you want your website to be part of Google’s SE database? Click here to visit Google Webmaster Tools to begin this step.

2. Is your content around 1000 words per page? SE’s like it short and sweet.

3. Do you use keywords appropriately?

Don’t stuff as many repetitive words into your content, SE’s can pick up on this.

Do repeat keywords to an appropriate extent.

4. Is your website organized? Develop a simple and neat sitemap.

5. Are you participating in reciprocated linking? Link with others and have other to link with you, but make sure they are reputable.

6. Don’t try to outsmart SE’s with shady practices… many are smarter than you think.

For advanced SEO techniques, I recommend purchasing Michael Millers textbook entitled “The Ultimate Web Marketing Guide”. Trust me; this book is like the bible for digital marketing.

Bibliography

Google Inc. (2012). Webmaster Tools. Retrieved 2012, from Google: https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools

Miller, M. (2011). The Ultimate Web Marketing Guide. Indianapolis, Indiana: Que Publishing.

PRLOG. (2011, March 7). Magnifying Glass Image: SEO search engine optimization seminar. Retrieved 2012, from PRLOG: http://www.prlog.org/11357015-seo-search-engine-optimization-seminar-how-to-get-your-business-foound-on-google.html

Spundit Ltd. (2011, July 7). Darts Image: SEO North Wales. Retrieved 2012, from Spundit: http://www.spundit.co.uk/

Web Hosting Reviews. (n.d.). Google Search Image: Top 10 Search Engine Websites. Retrieved 2012, from Web Hosting Reviews: http://www.webhost4lifereview.com/top-10-search-engine-websites/

6 Elements That Make Planning a Breeze!

I recently was introduced to a wonderful template tool that aids in developing marketing communication plans. This tool was developed in the 1990’s by Paul R. Smith and is called the SOSTAC model, which is actually an acronym for the 6 components needing analysis. I’m currently utilizing this tool in a course I’m taking and have found it truly helpful in organizing my thoughts. I also find that it helps in ensuring that I don’t leave out any critical aspects to my analysis.

So how about I take you through a detailed description of each abbreviated letter and the components required for analysis… Okay? Okay!

The Nitty Gritty

S is for Situational Analysis

This element of the SOSTAC model requires the individual to look at the current situation in detail. This varies depending on the topic at hand. In terms of a marketing plan, one would consider information such as the current source of revenues, existing competitors, and any processes and policies that are in place.

O is for Objectives

The Objectives element is fairly straightforward in the sense that the individual must put in to words concrete goals that are desired.

S is for Strategy

Strategy is one of the most important components of the SOSTAC model; it’s the meat of the meal. This deals with the overall means for getting to the desired objectives. It is likely that this section of the analysis (along with the next) will be the most time consuming.

T is for Tactics

The element of Tactic ties in with Strategy, as it better outlines what particular moves need to be made to carry on the defined strategy. Here we define what tools will be utilized.

A is for Action

After figuring out what we want to do and how we are going to do it, it’s a given that we need to define who is going be the one responsible for getting it done. Assigning tasks, roles and responsibilities is the basis for this section.

C is for Control

After all is said and done, we need to be able to measure how success our plan was in the first place. That’s where the element of Control comes in. Here we define how we will measure success, through the utilization of various metrics.

Illustrating the SOSTAC Model

Now that you have a basic understanding of the components, take a look at this diagram that illustrates the common way in which to present a SOSTAC model.

Adjacent to each element, place each of your associative bullet points.By utilizing this way of organizing your SOSTAC model, you create a standardized, self-explanatory outline of your plan.

You can use this model for more than developing a marketing plan. In fact, you can use it for various types of plans, whether it aid in your professional or personal development .If you’ve found yourself able to give a detailed perspective of each of these categories, then you will have produced a great analysis on whatever topic you desire. I hope you all find this tool as useful as I did… Happy planning!

Bibliography

Adams, B. (2011, June 22). SEO within the SOSTAC® strategy framework. Retrieved March 11, 2012, from State of Search: http://www.stateofsearch.com/seo-within-the-sostac-strategy-framework/

Business Services Agency Ltd. (2012). Developing a Marketing Communciations Plan using the SOSTAC Model: Planning Guide. Retrieved March 11, 2012, from BSA Marketing: http://www.bsamarketing.com/downloads/sostac.pdf

Predrag Putic. (2007). Chess Pieces Image. Retrieved March 11, 2012, from Canadian Chess Academy: http://www3.webng.com/chessteacherno1/

Smith, P. R. (2009). SOSTAC® Planning System. Retrieved March 11, 2012, from Paul R. Smith: http://www.prsmith.org/sostac.html

Mobile Marketing: Success and Failure

I’ve blogged a bunch on various online marketing tactics, and networking platforms, but I’ve yet to touch on one of the greatest growing trends in marketing—mobile marketing.

Why would marketers chose to target consumers through their mobile phones? Several reasons stand out in my mind; the potential reach as well as the fact that it’s personal and portable.

According to Wikipedia, 79.86% of the world’s population owns a mobile phone. If we narrow in on a more local perspective, it was found that 74.1% of Canadians own mobile phones. These figures indicate that there is a great amount of people who can be reached using mobile marketing tactics. Since it’s a common possesion of individuals, it’s seen as a personal tool, that many individual carry with them for the majority of their days. This results in it being very personal item that can act as a way into the intimate lives of individuals. With all things considered, it’s no surprise that marketers are utilizing mobile mediums to capture consumers.

Let’s take a look at some of the various forms of mobile marketing…

SMS: Short Message System aka Text Message

This is a pretty straightforward tactic for marketers and can work in two ways. Either the target audience is messaged directly to their phone about campaigns or promotional service or the marketer encourages consumers (usually through a traditional advertisement) to send a text to a certain number to receive some sort of benefit IE: Send a text to enter contest

MMS: Multimedia Message Service

This form of marketing is just as it sounds, sending various forms of media in single message to consumers. Usually a company will send out a combination of images, audio and video to promote their current campaign or services.

Location Based Marketing aka Geo-targeting

This means of marketing is based on emphasizing the location of consumers. This can be done by companies by having it offer consumers the ability to publically “check in” to its business. As a result, the consumer’s presence at your company is advertised to other potential consumers, aiding in the promotion of one’s business. Consumers can utilize this through their mobile phones with various software and applications.

QR Codes: Barcodes

Marketers display barcodes on traditional and other various forms of advertisement. These barcodes are to be scanned by interested consumers and act as a way of linking the individuals to additional content.

I’ve personally noticed that the amount of QR codes is on the rise. I’m not particularly a fan of this means of marketing, as many QR code tactics are either lacking in value or not properly utilized. By value lacking, I mean that in scanning the QR code, no actual value is gained. The barcode just links you back to the company website, or some other source that could have been accessed without the hassle of scanning. In terms of proper utilization, well… its best described by taking a look at these images:

What’s wrong with these pictures? Besides the fact that they make my palm feel magnetically attracted to my forehead, it highlights basic marketing failures. It is hard for me to fathom that someone actually determined these as an appropriate placements for an advertisements containing QR codes.

Basically, when it comes to mobile marketing, I’m all for it! Of course, it is very important that proper understanding of basic marketing principles such placement are utilized.

Bibliography

CallUp Net Limited. (2011). Retrieved March 4, 2012, from CallUp Mobile Marketing Platform: http://www.callup.net/

Erickson, C.   (2012, March 4). 10 Funniest QR Code Fail. Retrieved March 4, 2012,   from Mashable: http://mashable.com/2012/03/04/funniest-qr-code-fail

Flip Flap Man.   (2008, March 28). What is Mobile Marketing? Retrieved March 4, 2012,   from Slideshare:   http://www.slideshare.net/AdvertisingPawn/what-is-mobile-marketing

McIvor, K. (2012,   February 15). Stevens Pass: Pure Fail. Retrieved March 3, 2012, from   Mobile Marketing Fail: http://mobilemarketingfail.com

Wikipedia. (2012,   March 1). List of Countries by Number of Mobile Phones in Use.   Retrieved March 4, 2012, from Wikipedia:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_mobile_phones_in_use

Testing the Vlogging Waters

I’m sure many of you are familiar with the term “vlog”, which refers to blogging using a video format. I personally had no experience with this form of blogging, and as a result, decided to test it out.

Now, I’m not saying my first vlog is going to be a hit, in fact, I doubt it’ll create much buzz. Nonetheless, it was fun to mess around with the concept of video making. I utilized  the features Windows Live Movie Maker, and imported an unpublished song created by my boyfriend, Conor Watts, as the background soundtrack.

So take a look at my first video blog on “My Biggest Facebook Pet Peeves“. Don’t get me wrong, I think Facebook is a great tool for networking – This video rant simply illustrates 10 personal pet peeves of mine, in regards to Facebook use.

Warning, this is an unprofessional and informal video rant. Enjoy!

The Various Classifications of Social Media

When using the term social media, the idea of Facebook or Twitter will immediately pop into many individuals’ heads. However, there are so many forms of social media that are used in the everyday lives of those who utilize the digital world.

In fact, although Facebook and Twitter are the more seemingly known social media platforms, these two forms are very different in their functions and would be categorized into two entirely different arenas.

Michael Miller’s Classification Guide

According to Michael Miller, author of the ultimate web marketing guide, the most simplistic way to categorize the various social media platforms are as follows:

• Social Networks
• Blogs
• Mircoblogging Services
• Social Bookmarking
• Media Sharing
• Virtual Communities

It’s really important that marketers understand what platforms fall into which category so that they can achieve proper utilization of their message and deliver it in the best way possible to reach the intended target market.

Social Networks

Social networks are the most common platforms when it comes to social media. This specific category classifies platforms such as Facebook and MySpace, as their main purpose is to act as a means for causally connecting an abundance of individuals. Simply put it’s a way to network with people, in a social manner.

When Facebook first launched to the public in 2005, only students were able to access the platform. Its intended purpose was then only to connect various students to others in a social manner. However, presently it is available to any individual with internet access.

Another popular social networking site is LinkedIn. However, this particular platform is used in a more professional mode, with its intent to act as a compilation or database for professional people of professional people.

Blogs

I’m sure anyone reading this post is pretty familiar with what a blog is…. As you are reading one right now!

Blogs can be created by an individual, regarding any topic. In doing so, bloggers are able to present and share information to the online community, creating connections and spreading knowledge. For example, I created this blog as a means to share my knowledge, experience, advice and other tidbits of information to other individuals that are interested in marketing.  As a result, I hope that those reading my blog posts further their own interest in the field of marketing; whilst using the information I post as inspiration in their own lives.

Microblogging

Mircoblogging is just as it sounds—a blog but in a smaller (microscopic) form. Twitter is considered a platform for mircoblogging, as it allows for individuals to post on any topic as long as it fits within a limited amount of characters. Currently, Twitter allows for users to “tweet” up to 140 characters in one post. It’s a way to convey your message in a short and sweet manner.

Social Bookmarking

I’m a fan of social bookmarking. Most are free and available to the public; but require you to take a few minutes to create an account. Social bookmarking sites are somewhat like search engines, with the added function of being able to like, save and share the information.

I’m sure everyone has experienced being so very bored whilst surfing the web that with the large amount of data and entertainment available, it becomes hard to pinpoint what will entertain you in the given instance. That’s where one of my favourite social bookmarking sites come in to play; StumbleUpon. I love this site as it provides viewers the a large array of content that is customized to their individual tastes—Are you in the mood to browse something artistic, entertaining, educational or just plain weird? Take a few minutes to sign up for a free account, and get browsing some pretty neat material.

Media Sharing

Media sharing platforms refer to sites such as YouTube, and Flickr. These sites allow users to upload media content, such as videos or images. The site then hosts the uploaded content so that it can be publically viewed (and shared) with the rest of the world.

Virtual Communities

Virtual communities are a form of social networking with the added concept of an animated avatar. Some people use virtual community platforms for genuine social interaction, while others use it as a means for online role playing. Essentially, it is like a combination of Facebook concept with the realistic visual component of a video game. An example of such a platform would be Second Life.

It really is amazing to think of how far our society has come, and how lucky we are as individuals to have such a free and broad ability to connect and share with others in other counties and continents. Do yourself a favour and utilize these social platforms because they are the amazing technological advancements of our generation.

…Now you’re an expert (or at least better informed) about the classifications of social media platforms.

Bibliography

Facebook. (2012).   Facebook. Retrieved February 08, 2012, from Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/

Linden Research   Inc. (2012). Retrieved 2012, from Second Life: www.secondlife.com

Miller, M.   (2011). The Ultimate Web Marketing Guide. Indianapolis, Indiana: Que   Publishing.

StumbleUpon. (2012). Retrieved 2012, from StumbleUpon: http://www.stumbleupon.com/

Twitter. (2012).   Retrieved 2012, from Twitter: www.twitter.com

Yadav, S. (2006,   August 25). Facebook- The Complete Biography. Retrieved 2012, from   Mashable: http://mashable.com/2006/08/25/facebook-profile/

Yahoo Inc.   (2012). Retrieved 2012, from Flickr: www.flickr.com

YouTube LCC.   (2012). Retrieved 2012, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/

Images

Bugged.com. (2012). Social Media. Retrieved 2012, from Bugged: http://www.bugged.com/social-media/

McMillan, B. (2010, August 21). Hell no, I won’t go! Retrieved 2012, from Bock in Second Life: Blogspot: http://bocksl.blogspot.com/2010/08/hell-no-i-wont-go.html

Scotclans Blog. (2009, April 28). ScotClans Twittering Makes The News! Retrieved 2012, from Scottish Clan Blog: http://www.scotclans.com/bletherskite/?tag=twitter

Oh My!…

Today’s society lives and breathes off of technological advancement, with a great emphasize put onto the online developments.

I recently was recommended to read the eBook called “Oh My God What Happened and What Should I Do?” by Innovative Thunder partners Christian Behrendt and Leif Abraham.

What caught my attention right away was the fact that I could download a copy for free through tweeting! (You can do the same by clicking here—trust me, you won’t regret it).

What’s It All About?

Have you every though about how far our society has come over the last few decades? Do you want to put everything in to perspective?

The eBook does this in an easy to read format, with reference to all the programs and platforms we use in our present everyday lives … broken down by origin and impact. Not to mention, the layout and colour scheme of the book is quite appealing.

Through this flashback into technological history, we as readers are able to better grasp the changes that have taken place in the last 40 years. It is really is an interesting read!

As well, this eBook aids in encouraging new age marketers to keep relevant; correspondingly offering ways in which we can better position ourselves within today’s ever changing online world. Particularly, I love how Behrendt and Abraham emphasize the importance of being knowledgeable about digital platforms even if you aren’t a marketer (but especially if you are!)

Important Points from the eBook

One thing I realized after reading this book was that no matter what you in terms of marketing, whether it be for your own self or for the company you work for, the way you present yourself will never feel nor appear relevant, if you yourself aren’t up to date with trends!

My favourite advice given by the Innovative Thunder partners is that you need to “Live the Media”. Honestly, this is so very true when it comes to grasping the devices of today’s age. No one can really explain to you how to properly utilize digital or social media platforms; it’s up to you to play and explore it for yourself. Getting a first-hand feel for the platform is anyone’s best bet at succeeding.

Creating Relationships Through Proper Integration

Behrendt and Abraham note the important concept of “Integrate, don’t interrupt”… Genius! I couldn’t have said it better myself. This portion of the eBook highlights the importance of marketers to your target audience in a sound, smooth and integrated way—rather than in a disruptive and abrupt manner. In turn, it highlights the need for a more intimate communication with the consumer, on a more personal level (an aspect I touched on within my last post “Facebook: A Marketer’s Advantage”). With the internet’s ability to better connect businesses with individual consumers, we need to make sure that we, as marketers, are being genuine in our efforts to foster and maintain healthy relationships.

This aspect ties in nicely to another very important subject mentioned in the eBook, honesty. The authors state that “honesty is king”, as the fast pace of the online world allows for news to travel faster than it ever has before. This greater reach provided by online platforms can really hinder a business that isn’t being completely open with its clients and consumers. Just remember that transparency is key when integrating your company into the digital realm.

Bibliography

Behrendt, C., & Abraham, L. (2010). Oh My God What Happened and What Should I Do? Books on Demand.

Innovative Thunder. (2012). About Us. Retrieved from Innovative Thunder: http://www.innovativethunder.com/loggt/about.html

Cartoon Image

Indian Institute of Technology Madras. (n.d.). Technology Cartoons. Retrieved 2012, from Tech Motivator: http://www.techmotivator.iitm.ac.in/TechToons.htm

Facebook: A Marketer’s Advantage

Some might think that Facebook is purely a social media platform for social interactions between friends, but they’d be wrong. Actually—they would be missing out a critical aspect of Facebook: Marketing.

A Company’s Personal Integration

Facebook is the perfect spot for marketers to put to use their skills and bring their companies or brands into the spot light. This platform rates high in my books as a marketer, due to its ability to reach a large audience of people at one time, as well as become an intimate part of Facebook user’s persona. For example, if I were to like a certain company’s page, I would be self-proclaiming myself as an endorser of the company, what it stands for and what it sells. Additionally, I would be promoting it to my friends—as my ’liking’ of the company will show up on my friends news feeds, acting as a means of recommendation to them.

How to Start

The great thing about Facebook is that it doesn’t matter if you’re a large company or a sole proprietor; Facebook creates an even playing field for your marketing efforts.

All you need to do is set up a Facebook Page for your company, and customizing it to your liking. Lauren Indvik’s ‘How-to-Guide’ explains the ins and outs of creating a Facebook page, noting the importance of turning your already existing customers (or friends… if you don’t have customers yet) into page ‘likes’. This is an immediate start to spreading your reputation and reach, as their friends will be able to view their positive position on your company.

Making it Count

As noted by Todd Wasserman, Facebook the content in a company’s Facebook updates and page is crucial. With the advancements of Facebook’s new feed options, users can minimize the updates from company’s whose pages they’ve liked if they feel that the company updates are irrelevant or, for lack of a better word, annoying.

To avoid becoming ‘unliked’ or minimized, make sure all updates to your company’s page and status are relevant. As well, remember that Facebook acts as a more personal and informal way of communicating with consumers. In liking your page, users have allowed you into their personal lives—don’t take advantage of this by spamming them with requests or disingenuous updates.

A very interesting article by Leyl Master Black on some of the most critical mistakes companies make when using Facebook is a must read before you attempt to marketer through the Facebook platform.  Check it out here:

All in all, use Facebook to your advantage as a means for marketing, but make sure whatever you deliver is of value to your intended audience.

Bibliography

Black, L. M. (2012, April 2). Top 5 Facebook Marketing Mistakes Small Businesses Make. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from Mashable: http://mashable.com/2011/04/02/5-facebook-marketing-mistakes-small-businesses-make/

Indvik, L. (2011, May 25). HOW TO: Start Marketing on Facebook. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from Mashable: http://mashable.com/2011/05/25/facebook-marketing-guide/

Wasserman, T. (2011 , September 22). What Facebooks Changes Mean for Marketers. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from Mashable: http://mashable.com/2011/09/22/facebooks-changes-marketers/

 Images

O’Deli, J. (2011, March 10). Facebook’s New Anti-Bullying Tools Create a “Culture of Respect”. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from Mashable: http://mashable.com/2011/03/10/facebook-anti-bullying/

Sullivan, D. (2011, May 4). Has Facebook Become The Master Key To Unlocking The Web? Retrieved January 28, 2012, from Search Engine Land: http://searchengineland.com/has-facebook-become-the-master-key-to-unlocking-the-web-75139

The Balance Beam of Marketing.

There always seems to be new ways emerging to market to consumers and as a result, keeping on top of new trends in marketing is vital to a business’ success. By no means do I encourage anyone attempting to try marketing tactics like the baby billboard to the right, but I do encourage everyone to develop a greater understanding of how to properly allocate ones marketing resources.

With online marketing being all the range these days, you might think you’re doing what is best for your company by allocating a minimalistic portion of your marketing budget towards traditional marketing tactics. But are you really?

The answer is simple… No!

Sure, you have to stay ahead of the game and make sure you are up to date with current online market trends and analytics, but traditional marketing tactics are extremely important as well. Why, might you ask? Let me tell you.

The Importance of Traditional Marketing

First off, traditional marketing strategies have been around for a long while already, and as a result, many companies have discovered and implemented efficient and effective ways for using this means of advertising. In essence, traditional marketing procedures are tried and true.  Additionally, Traditional Marketing, such as print, television and radio advertisements reach certain people that online marketing tactics can’t. Not everyone is online, and although it seems to be that many people are making the shift to online activities, a large portion of the population still relies on traditional means for making their purchasing decisions.

However, please do not assume that I’m encouraging all you marketers out there to drop your online marketing budget for the old fashion ways. In fact, you probably will get more bang for your buck using online marketing tactics, as they are typically less costly than advertising by television, radio, or direct mail. There are also great advantages to online marketing, such as the ability to reach a greater amount of people in smaller amount of time.

The main thing I want to relay is that successful marketing, and in turn greater profits, relies on your ability to find balance within your marketing plan. What is right for your company might not be ideal for the next, but evaluating your target market’s needs and behaviours will be beneficial in finding the perfect balance.

How about some tips to get you started?

Find the Perfect Balance

Determine the needs and behaviour of your target market. If your target audience is less technologically savvy, or happens to fall within a specific speciality niche, you may want to consider allocating more (but not all!) funds to traditional rather than online marketing.

Determine which online activities eliminate the need for their traditional marketing counterparts. For example, Michael Millers notes in his book “The Ultimate Web Marketing Guide” that you need not have both traditional direct mail campaigns and electronic mail campaigns. Choose one or the other based on what displays abetter response from your target market.

Lastly, use traditional marketing to support your online tactics. For example, create print media that includes the URL’s to your company’s website, blog, or social media accounts.

Good luck in finding the ying-yang balance within your marketing plan!

Bibliography

Miller, M. (2011). The Ultimate Web Marketing Guide. Indianapolis, Indiana: Que Publishing.

Papworth, L. (2009, March 7). Baby Branding Image. Retrieved January 21, 2012, from Laurel Papworth: Social Marketing vs Traditional Marketing Mix: http://laurelpapworth.com/social-marketing-vs-traditional-marketing-mix/

Perry, A. (2011, September 29). Money Scale Image: Where Does The Money Go? Retrieved January 21, 2012, from The Power of Moms: http://powerofmoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/money-balance-by-smokedsalmon-at-freedigital-290×262.jpg

Riggs, L. (2011, October 24). Is Traditional Media Still Important? Retrieved January 21, 2012, from Chief Marketer: http://chiefmarketer.com/direct/print/is-traditional-media-still-important-broker-roundtable-1024-lar3/

Top One SEO. (2010, October 15). Is Traditional Marketing Still As Important As Ever? Retrieved January 21, 2012, from Top One SEO: http://www.toponeseo.com/is-traditional-marketing-still-as-important-as-ever/