Social Media Marketing Plan

If you have a small business with a limited advertising budget, you might want to consider a social media marketing plan. By making use of all of the networking resources on the World Wide Web, you can create a "buzz" about your product or services, which will eventually lead to higher profits.

According to an article on Subhub, there are three basic concepts that comprise a social media marketing plan:

• Visibility: Visibility involves creating a web presence amongst a targeted audience. This includes designing web pages, posting in blogs, and creating videos on YouTube and other media sites.
• Credibility: Establishing creditability is crucial to financial success. Savvy consumers are slowly becoming immune to catchy jingles and cute slogans. Your most loyal customers are those who want intelligent and insightful information, so make sure to give it to them.
• Profitability: Your ability to make yourself visible and to inspire confidence will eventually lead to enhanced profitability for your business.

There are three interdependent methods of social media marketing.

• Publishing: Put together an engaging blog, a picturesque photo site or an entertaining YouTube page that relates to your product or service.
• Sharing: Share pertinent information with friends by posting it on sites such as Digg, Stumbleupon and Twitter. This should be used carefully. If you only Digg your own work, you can be penalized. Instead, mix your own posts with posts from third party websites that support your personal theories about the usefulness of your product or service.
• Networking: Networking is one of the most important components of your social media marketing plan. Join sites such as Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn.

Recently, a number of huge corporations have begun to use Twitter for social media marketing. This quick and highly efficient method can put you on the fast track to developing brand loyalty. For example, United Airlines recently developed a Twitter strategy that they call "Twares." These super cheap fares are only offered to their Twitter followers. Additionally, in an effort to increase their Twitter popularity, they offered a special prize to their devotees when they reached 10,000 followers. Those who participated earned 1,500 Mileage Plus Points.

Hyatt Hotels also uses a clever social media marketing plan on Twitter. It's known as Hyatt Concierge. At any time of the day, you can ask a question about any of the Hyatt Hotels, and someone will answer. Both United and Hyatt have discovered one of the most important secrets to customer loyalty; making people feel special. By providing customers and potential customers with an open forum for feedback and information, they are gaining and retaining customer loyalty.

While being informative is an important social media strategy, nobody should underestimate the value of being entertaining. This is where video becomes important.

Anyone who has ever watched a late night television infomercial understands the value of video as a means of marketing a product. Today, one does not need to pay for an expensive TV infomercial. A short but entertaining video, which is posted on YouTube and shared with your social network friends, will do the trick.

Before you spend a lot of money on an advertising program, consider the value of social media marketing. You might be pleasantly surprised with the results.

• Safe Facebook Applications
• How Do I Make a Podcast
• Blogging the Bible

• Facebook Login Problems
• Facebook Sign In
• Free Lesbian Chat Rooms
• Best Facebook Proxy Sites
• Funny Facebook Status

• Social Bookmarking Software
• Category:About Social Networking
• Government Agencies That Use Social Media
• Interview: Social Networking for Business