Social Media Marketing

Although surrounded by a lot of hype, social media marketing is becoming a useful marketing tool for business of all sizes. Depending on which social networking sites are appropriate to your company type and target market, a company profile can be created on various social and business networking sites in order to have the brand represented on platforms most used by potential clients and industry role players.

• A blog site, branded with your corporate colours and logo, can be created for your company. The blog can be used to publish material that is relevant to your industry, of interest to your company’s clients and prospects, and positively contributes to your company’s image, such as special offers, news and press releases, and articles on industry trends and best practice. Numerous references to your company’s services and links to your website would ensure that web traffic is driven towards the main site. The publication of such material on a regular basis on an interactive platform will enhance the reputation of your company as a leader in the industry. It can also become a forum for people to comment on articles and for your company to interact with the online community of potential clients and industry role players.
• A company profile or topical discussion group be created on LinkedIn, the pre-eminent business networking website. This profile can then be maintained with up to date news and company information, supplemented with participation by executives who are on LinkedIn.
• A Twitter account can be created and customised for your company so that it is branded with your corporate colours and logo. News, announcements and blog postings can be further publicised via the Twitter account.
• A YouTube channel can be created and customised for your company so that it is branded with your corporate colours and logo. Video content created by, or relevant to your services and target market can be collected for display on this page to enhance your brand and online image.
• A Facebook page can be created for your company, branded with your logo. News and updates would be posted to this page and people on Facebook can interact with the brand in this environment by connecting with your company, and receiving updates on new and activities activities.
• Ongoing online reputation management is recommended, where interactions about your company on social networking sites are monitored and joined or responded to where required.

About Facebook

Facebook is a social networking website where users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region. People can also add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves. Companies or individuals can add a Facebook page, and users can then become fans (or "Like" the page) and receive news and updates from the page.

About Twitter

As a Twitter user you can post updates on your activities, follow and view updates from other users and send messages to connect with other Twitterers. Updates can be up to 140 characters in length and can be sent via SMS, instant message, or the web.

Twitter connects businesses to customers in real-time. Businesses use Twitter to quickly share information with people interested in their products and services, gather real-time market intelligence and feedback, and build relationships with customers, partners and influential people. From brand lift, to CRM, to direct sales, Twitter offers businesses a chance to reach an engaged audience.

About LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an interconnected network of experienced professionals from around the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries. Users can find, be introduced to, and collaborate with professionals within their industry. LinkedIn has over 85 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the world and executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members.

A company profile that summarizes your professional expertise and accomplishments can be created. Users from your company can be connected to the company profile, and they can then form enduring connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to them. The network consists of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know, linking you to a vast number of qualified professionals and experts.

Through a LinkedIn network you can:

• Find and be introduced to potential clients, service providers, and subject experts who come recommended
• Create and collaborate on projects, gather data, share files and solve problems
• Be found for business opportunities and find potential partners
• Gain new insights from discussions with like minded professionals in private group settings
• Post and distribute job listings to find the best talent for your company

About YouTube

Founded in February 2005, YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch and share originally-created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small.