Social Media Marketing

Your website is only one piece of your online marketing campaign. If you’re not using other marketing methods to drive traffic to your site, you’re simply hoping that someone will stumble across your website, business and products.

It’s important to consider how you drive traffic to your website. Traditional forms of marketing such as print and radio ads are pricy and often not cost effective for small and/or medium sized businesses…but, don’t worry - there’s something else you can do!

Social Media Marketing or SMM is defined as the use of social networks, online communities and blogs for marketing and building conversation. The concept of SMM is to “create buzz”, dialogue and newsworthy content for your clients, followers, readers and friends. In fact, the value of SMM lies in creating conversation via social media networks.

Instead of constantly driving people to your website through traditional methods of marketing, why not provide them a reason to go there? Adding a blog to your website is a great way to continuously update your website with new and relevant information. Providing your followers or clients with newsworthy content will only increase the likelihood that they will visit your website for a second, third or fourth time and pass the information onto their friends.

In addition to a blog, you can “create buzz” through social mediums like Twitter, Facebook or MySpace. Providing your friends and followers with tips and tricks will help to build your credibility online, so the next time you’re pushing an event, a new product or your business to the online community the more likely it is that someone will actually read what you have to say.

If you’ve been hesitant to try SMM in the past, give it a shot! Take an hour out of your day to participate in online discussion with people in your industry or people looking for your product. Think of SMM like you would think of a networking event – a fun way to build friends, followers and interest in your product or business.

Ask someone for advice and remember the value of SMM comes from connecting with others and building conversation, not from constantly driving traffic to your website or marketing your product.