Lots of articles about internet marketing focus on search engine optimisation (SEO). Fewer teach e-commerce entrepreneurs about the benefit of Social Media Optimisation (SMO).
Many business owners are starting to realise that the online forums and communities created to help people stay in touch with family and friends are also highly effective as a means of online marketing. Take a look at these tips for utilising this new form of promotion.
About Social Media Optimisation
Social Media Optimisation refers to the process of using social media and online communities to promote a business, its products, and services. Whereas SEO focuses on the tricks and techniques used to gain the attention of search engines, Social Media Optimisation is concerned with contacting people who use the internet and may just be potential customers.
There are many popular sites that are considered social media: networking sites like MySpace and Facebook, micro-blogs like Twitter, communities like Yahoo! Groups or LinkedIn, and bookmarking sites like Technorati or Delicious. Which you utilise will depend largely on the demographic you are trying to reach; not all sites will give you equal results.
Types Of Social Media
As previously stated, different social media sites attract different types of people. MySpace is largely known as being “the hangout” for young people (mid-teens), while Facebook is geared toward an older, more settled crowd. Technorati attracts techies, while LinkedIn enjoys a disproportionate number of professionals in the 25 to 45 year old age range. Obviously, which medium you use will depend largely on what your company offers.
If your website sells skateboards, a profile on MySpace with frequent updates and blog posts can prove very effective at reaching your target demographic. If your business is providing medical benefits to senior citizens, then Facebook is by far the best place to effectively market to these consumers; older people use Facebook almost to the complete exclusion of other sites.
Don’t waste time trying to keep up with membership in a forum that does not attract your type of target market. It’s too easy to get overwhelmed posting on a large number of sites and finding yourself unable to give them all your full attention.
Using Social Media Effectively
Speaking of developing relationships, that is the number one way to make social media effective as a marketing tool. People join social networks to communicate with others whose virtual company they enjoy, they do not appreciate frequent sales pitches or outright spamming.
Keep your posts interesting and informative in order to build up a good following. Sometimes it is better to post a topical titbit that does not have a specific relationship to your business rather than focusing on your products or services.
There is a fine line between spamming and subtle promotion. Outright sales pitches will get you ignored at best, ousted from the site at worst. In fact, you may not find that utilising social media brings in outright sales, but you will find that it helps boost awareness of your brand. This is essential for helping people remember your name when it comes to buy the products or services you sell.
Social media is a powerful tool that is only gaining strength as a means of subtle marketing. Don’t get left behind the competition. Pick a forum that will best reach your target market and stick with it in order to see results in the future. Social Media Optimisation and search engine optimisation are aspects of internet marketing. One shouldn’t replace the other and you should use any and all modern forms of marketing possible!
Have a most outstanding day.
Sean RasmussenAussie Internet Marketing
www.AussieSEO.com 2010
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