Social Media Strategy And Its Importance

Posted by Madhavi on Apr 20, 2011 in Social Networking | 0 comments

This is a guest post by Madhur Dharmadhikari.

Any 360 degree marketing plan is incomplete, without having a good amount of time dedicated to the social media. So far, we have been talking quite a bit about social media.

Today, let’s take a closer look at what social media is comprised of.

The main components of Social Media typically include:

• Online Forums

• Blogs

• Online Sharing

• Networking websites

• RSS feed

• Intranet

Why Social Media?

Always Connected An advertiser has to go wherever he can find the consumer. With your average consumer being as mobile as he is today, your best strategy is to catch him where he regroups, comments, discusses, influences and shares. Apart from a coffee shop, that space is also the web.

Studies have shown that there is a large majority of the population who prefer to check their email and their FaceBook

as soon as they wake up, and
while watching television.

The question is, is your brand present there and at that very time?

Social Media is that unique medium that gives us:

An ability to listen to customers and connect with them
A great tool for developing a brand
Faster feedback from the customers
Convert Customers into Brand ambassadors
A major discount on media budget, since its almost cost free

How to go about it?

The best way is to leverage the use of multiple Social Media tools in order to create and generate a collective effect. Just one tool is not often enough. For example you could:

Create a Facebook page for your brand
Create a LinkedIn / Facebook group of say, employees or members
Start a blog and maintain it by continuously adding news and relevant informational content.
Link your brand’s main website to these online spaces
Post updates about your brand on twitter
Use You Tube for posting videos of ad commercials or internal audio visual presentations
Keep the sharing process accessible with shortcuts to other networking sites available everywhere
Respond to people’s comments and keep the interactions going

There are lots of combinations that can be made using two or more of the above mentioned elements. The most important role of Social Media Managers is to keep on updating the information and keeping it current all the time. The blogs, web pages etc. cannot be left unattended. When people follow a certain brand on the social network they expect newer stuff and interactions.

Brainstorm all the time!

Maintaining this Social Media interaction is not a one man job. All the employees should be made a part of the strategy. Ideas come from everywhere. You can easily take your Brand’s Social Media strategy to the next level by involving your employees in a positive and proactive manner. Make it a part of your Company Intranet. Have a separate online and interactive community for your employees. Let them gather, share, send ideas and discuss. Everyone in the company should come together and share ideas at regular intervals to derive better benefits from the social networking arena.

Conclusion

Social media is a long term strategy. Hence, do not expect overnight results. Pick the best tools whatever suit your brand and log in!!!

Madhur Dharmadhikari has over 4 years of experience in the advertising industry. She has been involved in servicing brands from various industrial sectors like retail, industrial, real estate and hospitality. Apart from her work, she is very interested in photography, creative writing, reading and art.

Who says ideas don’t travel across mediums? With her unique understanding of how the industry works, Madhur brings in a lot of insights into the concept of Branding and how it can be used in an Internet setting. Watch out for more insights from Madhur on this blog! Meanwhile, you can follow Madhur on Twitter or add her on FaceBook.