Is Social Media the Right Tool for YOUR Small Business Marketing ...

Hopefully, my last blog had you thinking about social media for what it?REALLY?IS.? Now let?s look at social media in terms of your marketing strategy and what it might do for you.

The bottom line is this: social media is a tool.? No more, no less.? And when I think ?tool?, two things come to mind without fail:

1. Tool ? noun ? a mindless instrument (in the hands of others)
2. You gotta pick the?right tool for the job!

To continue with the ?tool? analogy?
From my experience, most power tools require respect,?maintenance, and training.??This one is no different and it?IS powerful? when leveraged with skill?AND knowledge.

The below article from Marqui.com?will help you get a handle on social media marketing and how it might fit into your small business marketing strategy.? Read it.? Then, ask yourself, ?Do I?see?this in?my future??

7 Social Media Misconceptions

Despite the fact that social media is rising in popularity and sophistication, most businesses still have some common misconceptions about the basics of social media marketing. Social media isn?t right for all organizations, but those that aren?t taking part because they have the wrong idea about certain aspects may be selling their online marketing short. So?here are our top misconceptions we come across when helping businesses get started with social media:

Social media is simple. In theory, social media is simple. At the most fundamental level it?s all about having conversations, which is what we do on a daily basis. However, there?s a lot more to social media than just having someone join in discussions in their spare time.

Social media is free. This is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding social media. While many of the tools you need for social media ARE free, taking part is a time-consuming initiative and that isn?t cheap. Allotting the appropriate time and resources for social media requires both time and money, and many organizations don?t understand that when they decide to implement social media.

Social media gives immediate results. Social media can have some quick results, but realistically it?s the kind of initiative that should be viewed as an investment. The relationships which are developed through social media will help you have better results in the future.

Social media isn?t measurable. While social media may not have the same kind of metrics as other campaigns or tactics, it is definitely measurable. Measure your social media through engagement metrics like number of comments, value of conversations, page views, links and number of comments. Avoid metrics like number of followers or fans though, that can be misleading.

Social media is just a ?trend?. Social media have been around for a long time. Some tools like Twitter are newer (2006) but blogging and forums have been around for a long time. Calling social media a trend or a fad is just incorrect.

Social media is only for B2C. Every business has customers that they want to communicate with.

Social media is only for a young demographic. Studies have shown that some of the largest users of social networks like Facebook are in the 35+ age range. Social media is definitely not just for youth. Do your research and see if you?re target audience is using social media, if it is, you may be missing out!

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P.S? Remember to join us for GetUWired?s Internet Marketing Webinar series! The 28th week?features Guest Speaker Mark Kane and starts on Wednesday, February 8th at 7:00 pm EST

Lee Goff CEO ? GetUWired, LLC ? A Web Marketing, Conversion and Automation Special-ist Company CWO and Master Trainer ? Guerrilla Marketing International, Inc Infusionsoft ? Strategic Partner Stompernet ? Strategic Partner and Faculty The Rainmaker Institute ? Strategic Partner Action Coach ? Strategic Partner The Country of Fiji - We just developed the web marketing strategy for the countries tourism board, and are now in the implementation phase. Lee Goff is a father, a business man and most recently the Chief Web Officer of Guerrilla Marketing. Lee?s ten plus years in the web services industry have given him the opportunity to be of service to over 850 small businesses? web imple-mentation and execution strategies. Lee?s eight years experience as CEO of GetUWired, a business web marketing, conversion and automation specialist company, have given him the knowledge, experience and expertise to grow and flourish along side the Internet. Lee acts as a consultant in many web re-lated fields including web strategy, design, engineering, internet marketing and chief web officer roles. Lee?s extensive knowledge on SEO, Web Marketing Strategy, Testing, Conversion and the use of the Internet as a tool for business in every facet is unsurpassed in the industry. Utilizing strategic partnerships with some of the world?s best market-ing and software firms including Guerilla Marketing, InfusionSoft, Stompernet and Avectra, Lee has been accurately positioned as a leader in the web world. Through his affiliations and experience Lee is able to bring his knowledge to au-diences across the country on how to make the Internet work for all businesses and how to understand business from an Internet marketing standpoint. Happily married to Lora, and the father of a beautiful little girl, Abigail, Lee Goff resides in Dahlonega, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. Growing up in coastal Mis-sissippi, Lee attended Southern Mississippi University and after getting married to Lora decided to base his corporate structure at the base of the Appalachian Mountains. GetUWired is headquartered in Dahlonega, Georgia.

Source: http://www.getuwired.us/Small-Business-Web-Marketing/2012/02/is-social-media-the-right-tool-for-your-small-business-marketing-strategy/

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