 Things to Consider About Social Media
If you haven't seen recent social media statistics, watch this video.
Statistics Video |
The stats are amazing! If you're considering diving in or even putting your toes in the water, think through your expectations and any misconceptions you or your staff might have.
Although many social media tools are free or inexpensive, effectively incorporating them into a marketing plan takes skill, time and money. Don't try to rush it!
In fact, don't try to do everything in-house. You need a strategy, contacts, tools and experience. Many people claim to be social media gurus, but hype doesn't compare to experience.
People upload hundreds of thousands of videos to YouTube daily. Unless you have a concrete strategy for driving traffic to your content, no one will know it's there.
You can measure the effectiveness of your efforts by using tools like Google Trends, Twitter search, Google Analytics, BackType and Compete.
If you need assistance developing a social media strategy, give us a call! |
Are Trade Shows a Good Investment?
As a former marketing executive for an
International Poultry Expo | international trade show, I have some good and bad news for exhibitors who are straddling the fence about whether trade shows are a good marketing investment.
According to The Center for Exhibition Industry Research, trade shows can be extremely valuable for a business. It costs 22 percent less to contact a potential buyer at a show than it does through a traditional field sales call. Seventy-two percent of visitors say a trade show influenced their buying decision.
What's the bad news? If you expect to write a check, show up and then go home a winner, think again! You need to plan, prepare and promote. Here are a few pointers to get you started.
- What are your goals and objectives for exhibiting?
- Do you have a realistic budget that covers all the necessary expenses?
- Are you familiar with the free and low-cost marketing opportunities available through the trade show organizer? It's surprising how many exhibitors don't know about them or use them.
- What will you do before and at the event to drive traffic to your booth?
- Do you have a strong media relations plan?
- How will you follow up after the event with customers, prospects and the media?
If you would like to discuss additional ways to maximize your trade show marketing investment, please e-mail us. |
| Social Media Survey:
The percentage of companies who say they have reached out to consumers using social media outlets:
- Heavily involved with social media: 32 percent
- Experimented with social media: 60 percent
- No social media outreach: 8 percent
Eighty-six percent of companies plan to spend more money on social media this year. Thirteen percent of respondents plan to maintain the same budget.
Source: Econsultancy and bigmouthmedia |
Sylvia Small Communications & Marketing
"Small in Name: Big in Service"