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May 2009: In this issue...Are you listening to your customers?By Ron Torch, CEO & Chief Marketing Officer - Torch Group Inc.If you don't know what social marketing can do for your company, then you don't know what your customers are saying about you. Here's a simple solution for adding social media to your marketing mix. Whether you're already seeing signs of an economic recovery or you're just trying to stay ahead of your competitors, Torch Group has flexible talent solutions that others can't provide, including specialized consultants and contractors to reduce the risk of hiring. Included among these contractors and consultants are experts who can help define your social marketing strategy and create and manage your social marketing profiles. Up until just a few years ago, marketing was 'the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitability.' However, this traditional marketing approach of less than 10 years ago has been upended by social marketing, which provides for a higher emphasis on the seller's relationship with the customer by creating true two-way communication that is researched for and designed to be of interest to the seller's target audience. WHAT IS SOCIAL MARKETING?Twitter. Facebook. Linked In. UTube. Making sense of social marketing as a business tool is like nailing Jell-O to a tree! Social marketing and all its facets can be daunting for newcomers. In simple terms, social marketing builds your business through many different media - including viral videos, blogs and online communities - to give your company greater exposure in places where your target audience spends time. While social marketing was originally developed from companies' desires to capitalize on commercial marketing techniques, it has recently developed into a more integrative and comprehensive discipline that draws on a wide array of technology, from the traditional to the most cutting edge methods out there. SOCIAL MARKETING IN TODAY'S ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTSocial Marketing is as much about building trust as selling goods and services. Not all types of social marketing works immediately. Statistically, you may have to wait months to see any kind of change, but it is worth it in the long run when you see what social marketing can do for your business. Social marketing works best when brands engage with their audience. And to do that takes time! Social marketing gurus measure the effect of their strategy by noting increases with target audiences in:
CREATING A STRONG BUSINESS MODEL FOR SOCIAL MARKETINGOne important step is to optimize your website using Social Media Optimization, refining your web site so that its awareness and content are easily spread through social mediums and online communities by users and site visitors. SMO is an important step in enhancing your Social Media Marketing, and it is a great addition to your traditional SEO. It's an excellent way to get people to come to your site to take a look at what you have to offer and it isn't difficult to implement. It's fast becoming one of the most effective ways of marketing online.Keep in mind that social media marketing is a wonderful tool when used to break down the barriers between your customers and your brand. While consumers display a healthy skepticism for non-interactive advertising formats, social media is swiftly becoming the key channel of influence. In fact, an estimate 80 percent of US adults consult online opinion before buying a product. Social media offers a fantastic opportunity for brands to build relationships and carry out market research to find out exactly what their customers want and how to improve their offering. FINDING A CONSULTANT TO BUILD YOUR SOCIAL MARKETING STRATEGYNo doubt, social marketing should be part of your marketing mix. If your brand or business isn't already entrenched in social media strategies, chances are you're several steps behind your competitors and you're missing opportunities to be in touch with your customers. Whether you're looking for contractors to help you create and manage your social marketing profiles, or you need a consultant to help define your strategy, Torch Group's social media experts can help. To find the right social marketing consultant fro your needs, please call Doug Levin at 440-519-1822 ext. 103 or dlevin@torchgroup.com. If you are uncertain about the economy, yet faced with accomplishing your marketing and sales goals, we have temporary contractors and freelancers to assist. If you're in the unenviable position of having to reduce your workforce, we have cost saving outplacement services to help. In either case we can help. Just contact us at 440-519-1822, or email rontorch@torchgroup.com. Torch Group is a highly specialized staffing firm that provides customized marketing talent solutions to Fortune 1000 companies, small businesses, start-ups and other organizations across North America. Torch Group's services include professional interim staffing, contract consultants, outsourced projects, executive search and career transition services. The firm provides its clients with professionals skilled in strategic and tactical marketing, sales, creative and communication specialties. For more information about Torch Group, visit us at www.torchgroup.com. Ronald S. Torch |
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