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| Social Media: Strategy or Tactic? |
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As a small business owner, I’m sure you’ve heard the social media buzz. Is this the latest “shiny object”, or does social media really have legs for marketing your business? Over the next few days, I will be addressing social media as both a strategy and a tactic. In Duct Tape Marketing land, you will commonly hear us talking about “Strategy before Tactics”. With social media this couldn’t be more true. There are literally hundreds of platforms labeled “social media”. Selecting the right approach for your business is critical to your success…and your sanity! I firmly believe that social media needs to be a core component of your 2010 marketing tool belt and overall Marketing strategy. Your business requires a marketing system, and as part of that a social media system that defines the daily, weekly, and monthly social media “tactics’ you implement to get suspects and prospects to “know, like, and trust” you. Let’s start with the basics…
Let’s dive in… Blogging is the foundation of your social media system and strategy. Writing, reading, and commenting on blogs is critical to a successful to a social media platform. The next step is to aggregate content using RSS technology to re-purpose and re-publish content that adds value to your prospects. Stepping up to the next layer in the pyramid, social search allows small businesses to manage their reputation online for local search with Yahoo and Google. Leveraging social search can get your business on the map when customers search for your products and services. The next layer is Social Bookmarking. Content is king on the Internet. By tagging relevant content you can open up new channels to your own content, as well become a subject matter expert in your field. Social networking is near the top of the hierarchy. Connecting to others on sites like Facebook and LinkedIn can help you build trust with prospects and customers. The transparency and ability to add personality to your product or service is a powerful tool in your marketing system. Don’t get overwhelmed right away. Get started and leverage one platform and start connecting with others. At the top of the pyramid we have micro blogging (Twitter and other services). This is probably one of the most complex tools, but also one of the most powerful as part of your social media tool belt. Watch for upcoming articles and free webinars we will be offering on social media for small business. Go Target, Attack, and Profit! ~Matt 
Posted in Social Media | 
Tags: Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Pro | No Comments »
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What exactly is Social Media? The most concise explanation I have seen comes from the | Duct Tape Marketing Authorization Achieved! |
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MarketFin is happy to announce we have been selected to become an Authorized Duct Tape Marketing coach. We are excited to help businesses in the Seattle area and nationally implement the Duct Tape Marketing system to increase their leads, customers, and profits. Stay tuned for upcoming announcement for Social Media workshops and webinars for Small Business and Independent Professionals. Cheers, Matt
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| Marketing Lessons From A 9 Year Old Trick-Or-Treater |
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My son had caught on to the theory of reciprocity, and the “like” component of the “know, like, and trust” mantra of the Duct Tape Marketing system. He said, “Dad, it’s easy….when we go to the houses with all the big decorations, I compliment them on how cool they are”…Wow! I swear I didn’t teach him that one. After chewing on his approach, it was a a good reminder and lesson that I think far too many business owners forget. Many times we have to give before we can receive. We get so caught up in our needs, and forget that our clients have needs too. Even a small compliment might do it. Our clients and prospects want to feel “liked” and they need to “like and trust” us to exchange their hard earned money for our product or service. I’d say the technique worked. After counting the candy stash, my older son had about 70 more pieces than the little Werewolf which I don’t believe was an accident. To Your Success, Matt |
I had the opportunity of taking my youngest son Grayson (a.k.a the Werewolf), and my older son Austin (the Money Man) trick or treating for Halloween. I didn’t really expect to get a reminder in Marketing during the exercise, but hey I guess they come in all sizes. After about an hour or so standing near the curb (freezing my butt off) waiting for the candy assault on the neighborhood, I made an interesting discovery. I realized after about an hour, my older son was pulling in the mother load even though both kids had visited the same houses one after another. Curious, I asked my son what he was doing to get the extra candy, and sure enough there was a method to the process.
But better yet, there was timing involved, so he continued. “But….you have to compliment them right before they are putting their hand into the candy jar.” I might be working for my son some day, but I guess that shouldn’t freak me out too bad.
