Engage your Market with the Use of Social Media Marketing

Right now your customers are flocking to social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and YouTube. Your competitors are also flocking there in droves to participate in the online “conversation” that is happening amongst the members of your target market although most companies have a very limited understanding of how to effectively engage their target market through these social media sites. They rush to quickly sign up with as many accounts as possible, maybe upload a picture or two and wait for the magic to happen – they wait for the people to come to them. What most companies don’t know is that there is no magic – the people won’t just show up.

“Social Engagement” is the activity of initiating or participating in the online social activities that are important to your target market. This is not to be confused with a selling or promotional activity. Although social media marketing helps attract loyal customers and keep past ones, it is done through influence and relationship building, not through the use of propaganda.

1. What is the best social media site for my company?

It important for a company to identify which social outlet is going to give them the best return on both their time and investment. Mainstream sites offer a vast audience but sometimes it’s better to target niche social outlets and be a big fish in a small pond. Posting content in topically relevant niche social sites will also help you produce thematically related back links which will help your site build authority with search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. 

I’m a firm believer that you should have a presence on the main stream social sites like You Tube and Facebook, but niche social sites allow you to target those people who are really passionate members of your target market - your industry influences. Truly enthusiastic members of your target market are going beyond mainstream social sites and searching out a niche online community where they can find others just like them and share related content.  A nurse, for example may be more likely to go to a social networking website, such as www.nursetogether.com, where they can discuss relevant industry happenings with people who can relate to them.

These niche sites are the prime locations to identify and engage the true influences within your target market. Those members of your target market have enough passion in their industry to seek out a nursing social site are clearly going to be a great conduit for reaching other passionate members through viral marketing.

2.  How Do I Effectively Participate in the Conversation? 

Once you have identified your social outlets (both mainstream and niche) you’re need to put on your creative hat and start thinking on how you’re going to effectively take part and contribute (not control) in the existing conversations. This will require time, research and creativity.

If you find an existing conversation regarding a specific topic, write a response to that topic or research a great article and point the readers to it. Post videos that will entertain enlighten or amaze. This content is your brand’s vehicle and if done well and will be forwarded to the inboxes of many future brand evangelists and loyal customers. Besides content (both original and shared), consider adding a handy tool or resource like a “widget” or an “app”.  Not only does this offer useful contribution to the online community, it also is a great way to get back links and quickly build exposure. It doesn’t have to be a big expensive widget - simply get creative and think of something simple and useful that members of your target market can share.

3. How Can I Keep My Presence Fresh and New?

• Frequently Update the contents and they must be Unique

Whatever content you want to upload on your website must be latest and unique. Write on those topics which are uncommon and people don’t have knowledge about them.

Below are a few tips for writing articles which makes reader happy.

Always be clear with your idea: Be focused on your content, important points to be covered and topic. Write the content in a way that the visitor can understand it easily. Content should not be too much lengthy that the reader loses the interest in the content.

Be friendly: Website content must be straight with the prescribed content. Keep writing style informative, real-time and specific. It is advisable not to write emotional stuff, it makes audience bore. If visitor does not find your content enthusiastic then she/he will not stay to read other content available on the website.

Give your own feedback: Web master should give genuine feedback, explanation and review regarding how you feel about specific topic or idea.

Write connective content: It is suggested by some expert that if your posts’ content is similar then owner should links those posts which is known as internal linking. Don’t waste your precious time in repeating the content again and again.

• Advertisement for your website

Ad-world is one of the creative ways to get quality traffic for your website. There are lots of ad-networks sites are available like Facebook Ads or Google Adsense. By submitting and paying fees for advertising, anyone can get enough natural visitors rather than dummy junk traffic. It is advisable not to register or buy bulk traffic solutions which can be get by other ways because it affects your website’s earning. Depending on the type of your website, owner should register for the relevant ad-world agency. For example, if you have business website then it is advisable to join Google Adwords.