New Technologies and Growing Pains

Sometimes, the little guys have it easy. While it’s easy to conceive of modern, social-media aligned initiatives, implementing them is a task that requires a nimble touch. If you’re a peppery bunch of 20 employees, designing and implementing a tactical approach to blogging, Facebook,’ing and tweeting is a matter of a few afternoons. For larger entities, you’re looking at meetings, discussions, brand decisions, approval rounds, and more. Months of work could be in store before you even give a shout out to your very first of fans.

Our advice to these larger organizations: be like the little guys. The smallest companies can amass enormous followings through charm, personality, and transparency. Shoot for the same attributes—even if more obstacles stand in your way. As a marketing department, stand unified in your decision to engage social media. Set guidelines and milestones from the start that are flexible enough to allow multiple contributors while keeping your voice unified. Here are a few more tips:

– Create Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn accounts—even if you have nothing to say (just yet).
– Your blog should be professional and informal—practice style before posting.
– Once you start, don’t stop! Maintain a regular schedule of updates.

Until next time,

Buyer Advertising
www.buyerads.com

LOVING YOUR AUDIENCE

You’re probably a little tired of the hype by now: social media is the art of making your audience love you. But what about the other way around–do you love your user base? As Valentines Day rolls around this 2012, it’s important to remember that marketing romance is a two way street. So, to return to our original point: how’s your Facbook these days?

The key for the any-size business looking to build an online following is to target the appropriate demographic. Most interestingly, per the Facebook developers, the typical person who “likes” organizations has over twice the number of friends than the average Facebook user. These are the folks who utilize Facebook as a hobby, and not simply as a networking tool. They willingly spend their free time on Facebook, which means that to earn their interest, you need to pay out in terms of entertainment value. Provide links and talk about your business, but do so in a way that’s interesting, engaging, and for goodness sakes, write about things people want to actually read! There’s no captive audience when it comes to social media.

Another key demographic you’ll want to court is the to 25-39 age range. Why? The average Facebook “liker” is aged 34. That means no matter what your typical customer base is comprised of, spend some time preparing content that’s of value people who fit in this range. Above all else, be proactive about your social media strategy, and entertain while illustrating your services.

Until next time,
www.buyeradvertising.com

Can Commercials Still Pull It Off?

Once upon a time, a family clustered together around a television set was an American icon. Smart, kitschy shows brought people together—as did the commercials that sponsored those programs. As clever, quirky, and memorable advertisements, commercials built a branded nation. Popcorn, soap, soda pop, and washing detergent all grew as recognizable items in a typical household, if only because their messages possibly couldn’t be missed.

Today, things are different. A fragmented population consumes media in a variety of formats, with a sharp shift in recent years trending towards online and mobile outlets. More people are logging online, with less booting up the television tube. The result: messages are spread out and less effective than even 10 years ago. But despite the arguably superior method of online marketing: television commercials are still an effective medium to communicate your brand.

Event-based commercial advertising can be very effective. Case in point: The Super Bowl (if you have the funds). Other tips for successful spots include thorough demographic research to ensure you’re reaching the right audience. Combine commercial ads with a full promotional spread to maximize exposure. Tie in online and social media marketing, direct mail pieces, and radio placement to best tap every generation and all walks of life.

Enjoy the big game!

Buyer Advertising
www.buyerads.com