This is a hype-free zone.
Your social marketing and engagement strategy shouldn’t be built on hype around social media tools – it should be built on opportunity and results. Social Media, although the newest kid in the class, can deliver lots of traffic and solid business results if applied correctly and with reasonable expectations.
We believe it’s very important for us to stay on top of trends and current happenings in the social space; but where you and your dollars should be using a specific tactic or tool? Well, we take a lot of care in making those decisions. It all depends on your business or organization and what your goals are, as well as where your customers are.
Having had success building (as well as consulting with) a variety of clients in different sectors from business to cause advocacy to non-profits, Portage Digital Media has seen what works and what has serious pitfalls. With some of our folks having more than 10 years of experience running and dealing with communities (way before they got neat pastel colors and friendly bluebird logos), we help silence online hecklers and amplify constructive conversation that creates business opportunities.
So get some of the most experienced people on the block on your team. We remember when Friendster and MySpace were cool, and yeah, some of us even had a LiveJournal. The tools may change, but the fundamentals of what captures online visitors’ attention – and hearts – hasn’t.
How do we know it works? Here’s a story about hugs.
A salesperson for one of our clients was trying desperately to go after this one contact for almost two years through traditional means.
The main result of their efforts? Hitting their secretary, over, over, and over again.
Our client developed a killer Twitter account – being personable, engaging, funny and most of all relevant – building over 1,000 followers. Not the largest, but still in the top .5% of Twitter accounts in size – and most importantly, people really passionate about their brand.
Fast forward to a conference. One of their Twitter followers came up – and when they finally met the people behind the account – it was hugs all around. HUGS.
When is the last time one of your companies’ fans hugged you?
Lo and behold, a little later, they’re warmly introduced by their Twitter follower to.. the person they’ve been trying to reach for two years, who sees them in a whole new light and has face-to-face time, resulting in additional business. The circle completes. And social media went to work for them building relationships that led to the sale.
