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!
See you at the top of Google!
Sean Rasmussen
SEO Australia Pacific
AussieSEO.com © 2007 - 2010
Hi Sean,
I think I’m starting to do a little better with social media. It’s still only early days and I have a lot to learn. But, I’m starting to talk to people and they actually talk back.
I’m getting the occasional email where someone wants me to do something for them. Again, I can hear you laughing at me but I worried I would be stuck retweeting and liking for life.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Learn and Earn Competition – This is It =-.
Hi Sean
I felt overwhelmed at the thought of belonging to all these social media sites at first but have selected a few that I feel I can relate to and build my online relationship with them.
Relationship building is tantamount to any business endeavor, implied, subtle or otherwise. It is imperative to not “sell” to friends and acquaintances and instead build a trusting and fun relationship with them because I believe if you retain your professionalism, they will get to know you and your business and will use your services in time if you have what they want.
.-= Elly´s last blog .. =-.
Hi Elly,
There are lots of social media sites. You just have to choose which ones are right for you and your business rather than try to have a presence on all of them.
I agree with you Elly. You have to build relationships with people rather than just push your own products. People know if you’re really interested in them or not and if you’re not genuinely interested; there’s no way they’re going to buy your products.
I tend to think if people are interested in what you’re saying they will look at your profile.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion =-.
I’ve been a fairly heavy user of social media sites over the past few years, not for the purpose of Internet Marketing, but for socializing. Thus, I’ve never really thought about “Social Media Optimisation” – in fact, I’d never heard the term before reading Sean’s article. So here is another new concept that I have to give consideration to in the quest to become an Internet Marketer.
I don’t know how much more this muddled old brain can handle.
.-= Don White´s last blog ..Water Over the Dam =-.
Hi Sean,
I’ve been building up the numbers on Social Media sites without really knowing why I’m doing it. Now I know, and I know how useful it can be to advertise products and services on social media sites.
I agree with Elly and Jazz, that care is needed to not appear like a spammer and to be genuinely interested in people and their needs. I also now need to take a closer look at social media and to see the many options I have by taking advantage and utilizing these sites.
.-= Jill Brown´s last blog ..Couples Marry at Common Law =-.
It’s all about being “social” Jill. If you can do this, you will find a lot more success with social media. Spammers get weeded out fairly quickly in social media circles
I like using social medias, and at the moment I am testing my way with them.
Its interesting that they seem to target different age brackets, which is useful to keep in mind
.-= Jacqui Emery´s last blog ..2010 Tom Quilty Cup Winner =-.
Thanks Sean,
that is great information on SEO, you have got me thinking!
I have a Yahoo account and they have been requesting me for years to get involved socially but I just delete them as I haven’t been interested, but now I have my site up and running I need to take some notice of all these requests that I get from these Socail Media Sites and have a look and check them out and see what they have to offer and see if I have anything to offer them, as it has to be a two way street. I want value and I want to give value, I don’t want to waste my time or someone’s else’s, time management is very important in this day and age! I think I have learn’t something here today, shifted that old mindset of mine.
Keith Westhead´s last [type] ..Holosync Meditation