Industry Buzz: Green is the New Black
We all know to do our part to be a little more eco-friendly, and you might be wondering what a “green” article is doing in your marketing newsletter. Word around the industry is that customers want to see a business’ dedication to the environment play out online. If you use recycled materials in your products, or recycle all waste – tell your customers about it. If your products don’t leach any ozone toxins – be sure to convey that message on your website. But beware, although this trend has been generating industry buzz it doesn’t mean that it’s become a staple in all SEM strategies. In fact, the eco-conscious information on your site may or may not actually influence a potential customer to buy your brand, especially if your brand isn’t something typically in the “green” spotlight. But for those customers on the fence between buying from you and a potential customer, it might just be that something special that sets you apart from your competition. Either way, it can’t hurt to mention your earth friendliness, and hey – talking about “green” may actually earn your company a little green. As this trend continues to develop, NetSearch Direct will keep you in the know.
The Social Media Mamba: Should Your Business Join In?
You’re hearing all about Twitter, you may even have signed up or sent out a tweet or two. You probably have a Facebook page or a LinkedIn profile. But you may be unsure how to leverage social media for your business, or even if you should. Although this isn’t the end all be all of determining whether or not you should do the social media dance, consider these factors before jumping in:
1. Is your audience on your network? If they are, ask if they’d mind if you followed them, and what they’d like to hear from you.
2. Is your business (or industry) being talked about? You can easily search through Twitter conversations to see if it is by going to search.twitter.com. If your business isn’t being talked about, you need to consider what value add you bring to your online community by joining in.
3. Do you have what it takes? We know you have the chops to run a business, but do you have the time and resources to manage a successful social media campaign with lots of relevant information and constant updating? Consider outsourcing it if you don’t have time in-house, but want to manage your social media campaigns.
4. Free or paid? Twitter, of course, is free if you know how to use it. Facebook offers guerilla-style marketing tactics as well as paid ones, and demographic targeting to boot. Decide up front which one is right for your company. The benefits of experimenting with no-cost and paid-for social advertising will pave the way for a successful campaign in the future.
5. What do you hope to gain? Of course, we’re sure new customers and big profits. But before you begin learning the dance steps to social media marketing, be sure you have taken the time to set some realistic goals for what you hope your business gains from the investment. That might mean talking to your advertising agency and researching the social networks and your vertical – but you have everything to gain by performing your diligence, and much to lose if you don’t.
Local businesses make up 20% of all social networking advertising spend, and Facebook reports that 74% of their ad revenue comes from local businesses making them an obvious favorite social marketing choice. This year, local businesses are estimated to drop at least $641 million of $3.3 billion dollars forecasted to be spent in social networking ads. But that’s still small potatoes compared to the bigger forms of online advertising – SEO and PPC. So small, in fact, it’s actually only 3% of all combined online spend by local businesses.
If you’re deciding whether or not you should pursue social media marketing, we suggest that you do your research and talk to the professionals. At NetSearch Direct, we’re happy to dish new ideas and give you the real scoop on how businesses are using these social media outlets everyday. Contact us when you’re ready to talk.