The Future of Business is Social

The future of business is social and as such, every aspect of business affected by outside activity will require a social extension. Businesses must shift from reacting to the outside in, bottom up groundswell to also leading a top down, inside out program to earn relevance, community, and authority. In order to do so, the social business will take a human touch…and internal transformation. Read more...

Inspiration Wednesday: Expanding Perception

Is Social Media Only for Those Who Sell Products?

So I was having this meeting the other day with my amazing client and she said, "I'd love to get into this social media, but isn't it just for company's that sell products? You know, like ipods, sneakers and other hard goods?" I smiled (lovingly) and tilted my head to the side and (sweetly) replied, "Client, your business is service based, which means you sell relationships, social media, the connecting of people to one another and developing new relationships, was MADE for YOUR business!" "Ahhhh," she mused and we got to work developing her social media plan.

Yes, we're taking it slowly. Getting her a page on FB and a twitter account. She wants to take her time ramping up because she doesn't want to have her social media be a one-way conversation. She's looking to engage, for the long term, customers. As with many businesses, she lives or dies by repeat business and, yes, referrals. So we're using social media to deepen existing relationships (securing these customers for the long term) and to bring new customers into the fold. But, unlike other sites that shout at their fans, we're drawing them in with participation and payoffs. Wish everyone did this with their social media!

Think Social Media is just for the Under 30s? Think Again

Though people ages 18 to 33 outpace other adults in almost every category of Internet use, their elders are rapidly closing the gap in social networking, according to a Pew report.

Internet users from all age groups increased their use of social networking from December 2008 to May 2010, with use by people 18 to 33 rising to 83 percent, from 67 percent. But those in every generation 45 and older more than doubled their participation. Adults 74 and older who are online quadrupled their social networking presence, and that now stands at 16 percent.

Teenagers, by contrast, cut back on traditional blogging by 50 percent from 2006 to 2009. It is believed that status updates from sites like Facebook and Twitter are replacing the need for standalone blogging platforms (read more at nytimes.com).

So if you're asking yourself what does this mean to me?, here's some food for thought. The wealthiest consumers fall between the ages of 35-65 years old. Those with disposable or discretionary income (money left over to spend after all living expenses have been paid) are able to make sizable purchases. And given that they're use of social media is continuing to rise, I think it's a safe bet to put your marketing effort there. As I mentioned in a previous blog, studies have shown that consumers are more likely to purchase from companies who are already engaging in social media?

"But I'm on Facebook" (I heard you say) while you were reading this. Ahhhh, yes, but what you do on FB, Twitter, LinkedIn is what's important. Are you just posting product or service announcements? Or are you truly engaging and drawing your customers and POTENTIAL customers in...this is how you convert consumers into customers...grasshopper. Need help doing this? Call me!

Social Media the Key to Increasing Sales and Gaining New Customers

According to Marketing Conversations, 73% of US companies use social media tools for marketing purposes. From 2008 to 2012, the percentage of US companies who use social media for marketing purposes is projected to more than double (from 42% to 88%).Internet users worldwide spend more hours per week with social media than any other online activity. And here is the most important statistic you need to know...15% of social media users are more inclined to buy from brands that advertise in social media. Here is a useful link to the full article. I think if you give it a read, you'll get a better understanding of the power of social media and how you can use it as one of the tools to help you reach AND EXCEED your sales and business goals.