Build a Business Social Network

Internet marketing incorporates the optimization of websites for ease of use by the search engines. Through site architecture, keyword, content and Meta tags, a website can be made friendlier to search engines. While optimization is an essential part of any website, Internet marketing extends beyond the scope of optimization and reaches into the campaigns associated with social networking. By creating links to common interests within the online community the business website can draw in consumers and generate online sales.

Internet marketing consists of search engine optimization that is the target of creating specific results for search engines to locate and return a list of websites that are most related to the search criteria. Through website optimization a business can gain a competitive edge over other retailers or service providers. Website optimization consists of keywords, content, Meta tags, and site architecture that all contribute to the manner in which a search engine explores a website and stores the information as an index for future reference by search engine queries that are conducted by web surfers looking for specific products or information.

Internet marketing includes search engine optimization, but extends beyond the website of the client to include such things as social networking and link building. Social networking is the next generation of online marketing that allows businesses to promote wares through the use of a social network website and connect to an audience that has a shared interest with the specific goals of the business. Some sites like Twitter allow users to build a marketing campaign around a topic of interest and allow for the debate of differing points of view while conducting a live online marketing campaign that centers round the business. If that sounds confusing it can be which is why Internet marketing experts are specializing in the specific details and operation of such campaigns.

Networking through a social website allows businesses to build a web presence in a nonthreatening way, where consumers can be introduced to brands, products or services and discover the mutually beneficial connections to business without involving direct selling.

Does your Social Media Marketing have a goal?

Almost everyone is into social media these days, but without a goal in mind of what you want to accomplish for your business or personal objectives you are just posting information that has little if any meaning. Consider building a reputation management campaign that has a specific goal that you want to reach. It is important to realize that unless you have something that is relevant to your end goal to say in your posts it is not worth saying anything. 

The trouble that most people run into is that they are too busy dumping as much information about their business or them self onto the internet that they do not realize the potential damage they are doing to their own reputation.

With the search engine algorithms recognizing quality in the wording of every scrap of information that is being blogged, tweeted about and posted on the social networks most people do not know that when they are chatting about their cat or how their weekend was with their friends they are effectively reducing their credibility as an expert within their chosen field of business. Not that your hobbies and interests are unimportant, but they carry no weight for anyone that is in business with you.

To circumvent the common mistakes that individuals make in regard to their personal socializing it is best to create two different and accounts for your social standing. If you do want to keep everyone on your friends list informed about what you ate for lunch and what you thought about the last film you watched you can do that, but keep in mind that your clients, vendors and coworkers are more interested in what you can deliver by way of productivity and increased revenue. With separate networking media accounts you can be social with friends and family members while maintaining a professional image for all of your business contacts.

Going back to what I stated before, the best way to plan out a social media strategy is to have an end goal in mind. What are you attempting to do? What is the goal of your work? If you don't have one you will never know if you have reached it. All too often business owners say that they want to increase sales--which is why they are on the web. But that broad statement does not identify their purpose or the function of their social media campaign.

Just as any marketing effort is targeted to an audience and directed at gaining a specified result the work of any and all social media posts, blogs and commentaries has to be aligned with the overall goal of your campaign. So what you say through any social channel should to be relevant to your business, your website and the readers who will be reviewing your dialog.

Before sending out any message it should be filter through your strategy statement and measured to make sure that it is aligned with the goal of your media campaign. Basically a strategy statement is like your mission statement--it is the foundation of what you do, the essence of your business and relates to everything that you are presenting to an audience through your online marketing. A friend of mine and marketing expert, Brian Pope came up with what he calls a Unique Marketing Positioning Statement. Essentially this is what I am calling a strategy Statement. Identifying what you do and why you do it helps to create the vision of your company and is a test for each post and blog you put into cyberspace. If a posting is not in alignment with what you are offering to clients, it does not belong in your social media campaign.

However, if you are posting a blog and then telling others about your work, you can promote a relevant message that you will be happy to link back to your website. The acid test comes down to asking yourself this question. Is the post I am about to send something that I would put on my website to attract new consumers? If the answer is yes then move forward, if it is no then rethink your position and only post what will build you up as an expert in your area of business.

The goal of every marketing media strategy is crucial to the success of your ongoing public relations effort which is building your reputation. Keeping specific goals in mind each time you are tempted to post anything online will help you to decide what to post for the business public and what to send to your network of friends. With a targeted message you can do a greater good for your business than if you just sat down commenting on the things that no one really cares about. 

As you write your posts, ask yourself so what? What do others take away from this message? Is there a call to action if so is it relevant to your work? What is the reader going to do next? If they like the article, blog or post ask them to indicate it by taking action.

So what are you waiting for, click the like button, re-tweet this message to the people that can benefit from it and start following my blog! After all that's one of my social media goals. What are yours?

Changing trends in Online Marketing

As online marketing continues to shift and reshape the Internet a new series of strategies has emerged that is making the work of SEO even more effective. Using social media networks to affect the decision making process, businesses are now recognizing the need to build up a reputation through the links and posts on the densely populated social media sites. Creating campaigns that attract attention of an audience and redirect potential customers to their website, businesses of every shape and size are finding out that in order to be competitive they need to do more than just optimize their website. While link building and page ranks remain the goal of a successful SEO campaign there is a growing emphasis on how organizations use social media to guide the laser targeted of search engine optimization.

Because traditional offline commercial advertising campaigns are losing their momentum, the online world is continuing to bring newer and more effective marketing practices to the attention of business owners and advertising professionals. Mastering the tools and techniques for guiding millions of Internet users to the products and services of their clients, online marketing managers are achieving success that reaches beyond the accepted practices of SEO. With the technology driven short attention spans of younger consumers social media marketing offers a growing number of strategies that have and will continue to act as a laser for targeting unique groups of consumers that are constantly online with money to spend.

Of course the use of social media does not negate the need for a well planned SEO strategy. Adding to the success of a continual link building campaign the work of online social interactions by business professionals is an important element of Internet marketing that cannot nor should be overlooked. Selecting keywords and writing content that is sprinkled with a fair amount of keywords continues to be a vital component of success. Optimizing a website with Meta tags and content rich relevant wording still relies on the links that are generated through related article submissions, blogs and industry directories. Building an online reputation that supports the work of an optimized website requires continued posts to the social networking sites that are frequented daily by millions of people. Aiding in the effort of an effective strategically thought out SEO campaign the addition of social media makes internet marketing all the more successful. With the help of professionals that are versed in the uses of social media and who can create a customized campaign to promote any organization. Being ranked higher in the search engines is the result of all of the online marketing efforts of SEO, link building and social media posts.

Managing Online Reputations with Social Media

As I have thought about this blog I have created a list of topics that I am going to be blogging about in the coming weeks. Thinking about how to continue to offer tips or advice to those that working on their own search optimization efforts I realized that I also need to include the trends in social media that are allowing individuals and businesses to gain a stronger web presence. Managing an online reputation is an important piece of the internet marketing puzzle.

After interviewing for a position as a corporate social media manager this morning I sat down to strategize my own approach building a solid reputation as someone who not only uses social media to move my professional profile forward, but also looking at what I can do to help businesses to grow. With link building offering permanent additions to the ranks of search optimized websites, the social portion of internet marketing focuses more on the branding and positive perspectives that a company or individual has online.

For everyone that is not doing anything about managing their online reputation the lack of interest in social network sites is hurting their business. Even with a moderate amount of posting on the networking sites a business or individual can keep a positive vibe circulating about themselves or their work. For myself, the management of a reputation is something that I committing to right now. Although I have been involved in online marketing in one form or another for the past three years I am only now seeing the significance of creating an online identity that can boost my professional interest as an expert content writer. Wanting to add more punch to my resume I am including a healthy dose of social media contacting to my online reputation. The end goal of course is to be at the top of the search engines when someone types in social media networking, online media marketing, or internet marketing consulting. Even though I am a freelance writer who specializes in blog and article content for the web I am expanding my horizons and working to improve my own standing as someone who understands and utilizes social media on a regular basis.

And I am not the only on doing that! Businesses across the internet are invested in the continued improvement of their online reputations. With the ability to post a review about a company in a consumer focused web forum businesses are required to scan the internet for negative press and do all that they can to replace the hurtful dialog with positively reinforced posts and reviews. Through online reviewing sites that allow people to post their feedback about the service and quality that they received from a business, the reputation of that company is established. In some cases the feedback may be perceived as negatively impacting the business which is why it is vital to the organization to ensure that if their name is attached to the results of a web search that comes up as shining the best light on the company. Regardless of whether they are a multinational corporation with tens of thousands of employees or a mom and pop small business that serves the local community the only way to keep a positive light on any business is to promote it positively in as many places as possible.

This is where social media content comes into play. Using the social media networks, consumer reviewing sites and even allowing customer reviews on their own website, businesses can work to continually manage their online reputation and achieve the ranking among the social networks as a company that has integrity and delivers quality to each person they serve. Although it is tempting to keep up on the various activities that taking place in the social networks throughout the day, I recommend keeping the work related posts focused on the business you are in and spending the after work hours connecting to friends and  family members online. With a strategy to promote the positive image of the company, the posts to the social media sites can improve any reputation and lead to more beneficial impact on the search engines that are tracking the reviews and posts entered online.

Until next time...