Social Networking is the New Marketing
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Social Networking-Step into the deep end of the new marketing wave
The internet has opened us up to more; more information, more commercials, and more staying close. With that exposure to more, it has also put a death knoll on marketing campaigns as we knew them. Traditional tactics of putting an image out there for a company do not work anymore. People want connections; they want to feel they know the company inside and out. They do not want to be treated like mindless shopaholics.
The internet has shown customers that information is king and conversation is next in line for the throne.
Gone are the days of the customer not caring where the stuff they buy comes from. Too much is at stake these days, including the environment and jobs. People want to know where what they buy comes from, and they want to feel like there is a personal connection there. Customers want to trust you, and building trust cannot be done in a 30 second advertisement.
Social networking has also opened up businesses to respond to customer needs instantly.
The internet has trained all of us to expect things yesterday. We no longer wait for letters to be sent through the mail, we send them by magic instead so they arrive in moments. Your customers expect you to communicate with them with the same speed and efficiency. With social networking you can respond to customer needs, wants, and concerns with the touch of a button.
Lastly, social networking lets your customers know that you are dependable. When a customer posts a concern, and you respond to it immediately, you are further building trust. This way both current and potential customers know that you listen and respond to their needs. Letting customers post their problems publicly may seem a bit odd, but everyone knows that no company is perfect. Letting them know that you care about satisfied customers, and if they are not satisfied you will work until it is right, then customers will flock to you.
Social networking also allows the business to post meaningful information in more than one place.
Your customers are already using social networking.
By using it as a business, you are able to post hours of operation, maps, addresses, and contact information on more than just the company website. This allows customers to find you more easily.
