13 – Social Media Rant & Misconceptions

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Welcome brand builders this is Rediscover Your Brand™ podcast episode #13 brought to you by ArtVersion interactive.  I’m your host Kip Russell.  I’m a social media manager for multiple brands as well as marketing enthusiast and I’ve even written a TV theme song.

This week on Rediscover Your Brand™ podcast we are talking about misconceptions of social media and how they could be affecting your company.

Social media is not the savior

Today in the ArtVersion office we had a client say, “I read in an article that if I tweet about my product and post on Facebook I’ll be fine.”  Our client is a social media Novice and starting a new company based on selling products online.  It’s IMPORTANT that all businesses small and large realize that social media marketing is not the SAVIOR for your business.  I’ve had numerous clients with false expectations for what social media will do for their company. It’s not their fault it’s the result of 2 years of being blasted in the face with too much hype by the media.  Social media is a game-changer in many aspects but it’s not your savior. Sure it’s overthrowing governments around the world and helping people start business for less capital than ever but for the majority of us, social media is another tool to add to our overall business and marketing strategies. There are no shortcuts in developing a strong brand, great customer services, great word of mouth, and having a strong PR campaign to get exposure.

Let’s be clear, creating a Twitter, Facebook, or any other social media network, just to say your company has one isn’t what we’re talking about.

Social media is an extension of what a great business does well already: listening, engaging, customer service, and building lasting relationships with clients and customers.

Over the years these principles have never changed, just the tools we use to actively practice these essential business practices have changed.

Originally it was a handshake & a warm smile… now with a retweet or alike, you are effectively doing the same thing… but now with the ability to keep constant communication,

and share your news and ideas, with many more customers than ever before.

In the past, when a consumer or client left your place of business there weren’t many ways to keep in touch with them, much less effectively market to them on an emotional and personal level.

Now with the help of social media platforms, businesses can continue to evolve relationships with customers on a daily basis.

In this tight economy, there is no reason your company should be spending a majority of your marketing budget on one-way marketing tactics such as print, newspaper ads, coupon mailers, brochures & others without balancing it when digital marketing. We recommend using your print marketing to start a conversation with your consumers that directs and continues the conversation online via your social media platforms.

For the cost of your time, with thoughtful commentary about your brand and business…and some follow up… you can organically grow, update & control your own marketing eco-systems using social media in real-time.

We understand that for many of you social media may be as foreign to you as a new language. That’s why it’s important to find an experienced agency that has the ability to mentor, educate, develop a strategy, and effectively maintains your digital platforms.

Social media platforms are as monumental to our society as the invention of TV, Radio & print media. And I want to emphasize the importance to be on these platforms earlier rather than later. With that being said the strategies you’re implementing for your social media campaigns have to be geared to the marathon and not the sprint.  Social Media marketer Gary Vaynerchuk compares many companies to 16-year boys when first entering the social media world…” they try to close too fast.”  These platforms are new and your company’s voice on them maybe even newer. The goal is to build lifelong relationships with your customers and win by listening to what they want.  The companies that learn and adapt to their consumers’ needs will win the marathon.  The consumer is smarter and more educated than ever. Their Bullshit radar is top-notch. Most people under the age of 25 don’t remember a time before social media. So take your time, be honest, authentic, and smart about how you’re acting on these platforms.  Concentrate on the marathon, the sprinters will fade away and burn their bridges with their consumers while the marathon runners will build loyalty, trust, and a lasting relationship with their consumers!

That’s it EPISODE #13 of REDISCOVER YOUR BRAND.  If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to rate the show on ITUNES.

Also, don’t forget you can follow us on TWITTER – twitter.com/ARTVERSION or connect with and LIKE us on facebook.com/artversion.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to send us an email, we would love to hear from you.  To get more information on ARTVERSION, visit our website at ARTVERSION.COM.

Next time on the REDISCOVER YOUR BRAND™ podcast EPISODE #14, we’ll be discussing the low cost of starting a new brand.  And EPISODE #15 we will be discussing Ecommerce website, what makes the effective & if your company should be using one. That’s next time, until then, Thank you for listening – I’m Kip Russell helping you REDISCOVER YOUR BRAND.