Social Media

Social media has swept the web like wildfire, burning through several former trends and it’s only getting worse… or better.

No matter how you view this craze, the most important thing is how your audience uses social networking. No matter what industry you are in, your market uses Facebook or Twitter at least once a week.

How can you use the social media craze to your advantage?

According to an Alexa report (dated June 14th, 2010) the following statistics were shown about Facebook traffic. (Please click the Alexa Report link to see the most recent data about who’s using Facebook.)

• The age range of the audience that Facebook is particularly popular with is 18-44.
• 28.2% of site traffic to Facebook is from the United States
• Facebook is the second most heavily visited website, just above YouTube and just below Google.
• The average time users spent on Facebook yesterday (6/13/10) was approximately 32 minutes.

With that being said; it’s worth repeating that…

Regardless of how you personally feel about it, social media is a powerful medium for marketing… but that doesn’t mean you should just jump right on board!

There are far too many mistakes you can make on social media, especially if you are inexperienced. Everything that you do and say on the internet will affect the credibility of your brand, and it is because of social media that many businesses and organizations are wasting precious time following a dead end path.

At this moment, there are four very unique networks that each offer their own powerful set of benefits. Understanding how to utilize each network for your own set of unique needs is key for social media success. While Facebook currently holds its position for largest demographic reach, G+ (Google Plus) is fast on the rise and it’s only getting started. More importantly, Google + will change search engine optimization efforts substantially. LinkedIn is a great networking platform for B2B services, while Twitter is appropriate for viral link building.

Most importantly–  and this is where a lot of businesses get social media wrong– social networking is a social thing. One-sided conversations are considered dull and spammy, so it’s important to prioritize ways to engage your community over promoting and selling.

Social Media Set Up

From choosing the right social media platform(s) to building an active network, I will not only set up social networking but also train you to keep it active by engaging your community. Click here for more information about social media training. Or (if you aren’t comfortable with the time consumption of social networking) I can also maintain your accounts…

Social Media Management

Similar to a web content management package, social media management is about efficiency. Social media is an ongoing process that requires daily updates and correspondence. If you don’t have the time for tweeting or wall posts, and you don’t have the budget for a dedicated internet manager on payroll… then you might benefit by outsourcing the task of social networking to a Finger Lakes social media manager named Caryn. If you would like more information about how I can help manage your social media marketing campaign, please request a free, no obligation estimate by calling (315) 876-5925.