The Social Media Marketing Shift

If you haven’t read Dave Evans “Social Media Marketing: An Hour A Day”, I would highly recommend it. I’m not going to sugar coat social media marketing. In theory it sounds easy, especially if you are a regular Facebook’r. If you want to connect to your audience online, then get prepared to invest a reasonable amount of time.

Then again, just spending time on social media isn’t necessarily going to make an impact. Ever watched the clock tick by and wonder what happened with the last three hours of your life?

That’s why I completely understand now that if you are ready to bring your business ‘online’ and connect with a limitless audience, you firstly need to fully understand your desired outcome and follow through with a set strategy. First impressions matter. If you don’t fully understand your message, or your intended audience, then take the time out to do your homework and make your voice consistent from day one. This book can assist!

I really think the above quote summarises the complete shift from over-the-top advertisements to a user driven community where brands/identities and icons are openly discussed. The brand owner needs to be an active participant in the discussion and add value rather than the traditional ‘pitch pitch pitch… sell sell sell’.
 
Here’s a perfect example of the shift in marketing online: I’m going to give you a link to the Amazon page for this book, and make it very clear that if you buy the book through the link, a very small portion will be sent to me as an affiliate. I’m going to recommend the book not because I want you to buy it so I can make a few cents, but rather I’m sharing a useful resource that may help you. I’m not going to create a flashing icon for you to buy, because then it would appear I’m more a salesperson rather than trying to share information. Honesty and authenticity can take you a long way in today’s online world!

What are your thoughts on this strategy? Have you used it in your business?

Anyway, I’m not here to give away the juicy bits of this book, so if you’d like to read more, you can grab a copy from Amazon.