RSS Feed (xml)Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, My Space and others are a new frontier in marketing opportunities. People offer demographic information online that can be used by sales and marketing people to target precise audiences in an intimate and familiar setting. But best practices are still yet to be defined.
As traditional media continues to lose audiences, businesses are increasingly focused on new media formats, such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, to connect with customers. The goal should be to reach your precise target audience.
New media allows marketers to activate the interested and turn them into campaigners for products and services. Advocates drive success. You may have the shiniest needle in the haystack, but without help, few will notice your podcast, blog, or Flash-enhanced Web site.
Once noticed, however, the best in any category will be discussed among the most passionate talkers and bloggers in that field. The trick is to learn where those people "hang out" and give them some-thing worth talking about (and forwarding to fellow aficionados).
Viral Marketing
How do you make viral marketing work for you? A good example is the Blendtec blender. The company's home blender sells for about $400 retail--a huge premium considering that most decent blenders sell for about $50. This is one tough blender, though. Tom Dickson, CEO of Blendtec hadn't even heard of YouTube in late 2006 before his marketing manager, George Wright, decided to try a viral marketing stunt by posting a few homespun videos on the Internet. Dickson actually became the main character in the "Will it blend?" videos.
In a matter of weeks, spending under $100, Blendtec generated rabid interest in its blender and increased sales dramatically because millions watched the company's YouTube videos.
The viral campaign worked like magic. Thousands of people rushed out to purchase a $400 Blendtec when a $39.95 Hamilton Beach blender would make just as fine a smoothie. In 2006, Blendtec sales were well under $10 million. By 2007, Blendtec sales exceeded $40 million. That astronomical growth resulted from giving the marketplace something unique, compelling and remarkable (as well as funny) to spread around.
E-Mail Marketing
E-mail marketing is almost like free direct mail. I'm a traditional salesman by trade, building business by cold calling, appointment setting, presenting, and bidding. That is the old way. Firms that make effective use of e-mail marketing may find they rarely make cold calls because they're too busy helping prospects and clients who call them instead. Your firm's e-mail list needs to be a high priority and treated like gold. An electronic newsletter can deliver high value to customers and potential customers. Request permission of every business contact to send them a newsletter and rarely use the list to promote yourself. Deliver value-based content that readers can use. They will remember this when in need of your services.
As traditional media continues to lose audiences, businesses are increasingly focused on new media formats, such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, to connect with customers. The goal should be to reach your precise target audience.
New media allows marketers to activate the interested and turn them into campaigners for products and services. Advocates drive success. You may have the shiniest needle in the haystack, but without help, few will notice your podcast, blog, or Flash-enhanced Web site.
Once noticed, however, the best in any category will be discussed among the most passionate talkers and bloggers in that field. The trick is to learn where those people "hang out" and give them some-thing worth talking about (and forwarding to fellow aficionados).
Viral Marketing
How do you make viral marketing work for you? A good example is the Blendtec blender. The company's home blender sells for about $400 retail--a huge premium considering that most decent blenders sell for about $50. This is one tough blender, though. Tom Dickson, CEO of Blendtec hadn't even heard of YouTube in late 2006 before his marketing manager, George Wright, decided to try a viral marketing stunt by posting a few homespun videos on the Internet. Dickson actually became the main character in the "Will it blend?" videos.
In a matter of weeks, spending under $100, Blendtec generated rabid interest in its blender and increased sales dramatically because millions watched the company's YouTube videos.
The viral campaign worked like magic. Thousands of people rushed out to purchase a $400 Blendtec when a $39.95 Hamilton Beach blender would make just as fine a smoothie. In 2006, Blendtec sales were well under $10 million. By 2007, Blendtec sales exceeded $40 million. That astronomical growth resulted from giving the marketplace something unique, compelling and remarkable (as well as funny) to spread around.
E-Mail Marketing
E-mail marketing is almost like free direct mail. I'm a traditional salesman by trade, building business by cold calling, appointment setting, presenting, and bidding. That is the old way. Firms that make effective use of e-mail marketing may find they rarely make cold calls because they're too busy helping prospects and clients who call them instead. Your firm's e-mail list needs to be a high priority and treated like gold. An electronic newsletter can deliver high value to customers and potential customers. Request permission of every business contact to send them a newsletter and rarely use the list to promote yourself. Deliver value-based content that readers can use. They will remember this when in need of your services.
