Social networks, Blogging, Online directories, Web 2.0, micro-blogging, Online forums, are just a few of the terms you may or may not be familiar with.
The terms themselves aren’t that important its the concept which they stand for that is, and that concept is of user interaction and user generated content. The idea that today’s customers and clients live in a connected world which they can control and that includes their perception of you company, brand and services. Whilst most of are aware of the many social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, etc, but how many really understand the impact that forums and bloggers can have on our businesses, positive or negative?
For many small businesses online marketing and PR through social networks can be a cost effective way of reaching your audience on a global scale. Imagine finding a forum which main thread of discussion surrounds your niche market, this forum picks up on your service through appropriate marketing and within days has a long list of reviews and discussions about your products and services. Imagine how powerful that user generated commentary about your business would be to potential new customers vs the standard sales literature found on a static website on in a offline ad.
The power of SNO is credibility!
Harnessing the potential of SNO can control and negate bad press and opinion, whilst maximizing your global web presence and customer base and creating credibility around your business and brand. It’s this interaction and credibility building is the key difference why SNO is so much more powerful than simple SEO and therefore its importance can’t be understated.
We recommend any business, web based or not, should start looking at how they approach SNO and suggest the following questions to ask when looking at Social Network Marketing;
- Where are potential customers discussing my industry/products/services?
- What are the hot topics/issues that these bloggers/forums are raising?
- What interaction does my business have with these forums and their issues?
- What opportunity do we offer to both our exsiting and potential customers to feedback to us and interact with us on the internet?
Find the answers to these questions and you can be well on the way to tackling SNO and influencing more customers than you ever imagined.
