Stop wondering about Social Media Marketing for your business…

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David Finch

David Finch

Social media is more than just a buzzword. There are opportunities and measureable results that it offers that can be extremely beneficial to companies of all sizes. While Facebook and Twitter may be included it’s more than that.

Many times people get so caught up in the tools that little time is spent talking and strategizing and about what social media can actually do. Tools are great if you know how to use them, but at some point the tools need to have purpose. It’s where there is no purpose that abuse becomes the end results.

I often hear small to mid-size companies ask to help implement social media strategies into their overall marketing plan with a skewed outlook of what social media is and what its benefits are. However, if you know what social media isn’t, than it’s a lot easier to grasp what it can do.

If you have a good product, a detailed business plan, and customer service policies in place and willing to invest time, here are a few things that social media can do for your business.

Benefits that Social Media Could Provide

  • Gives you the opportunity to begin listening to what others are saying about your company online.
  • Allow you to have one-to-one communication with your consumers.
  • It can be used to gather feedback about new products.
  • It personalizes your corporation/brand
  • Provides channels to produce and distribute exclusive content that can be shared which in return extends the voice of your brand.
  • Can be used to share exclusive information and offers to your loyalists.
  • It’s an extension to your public relations strategies
  • Provides platforms to build communities for your brand enthusiasts around your product and company.
  • Offers opportunities that will bring exposure to your company.
  • Provides potential opportunities for word-of-mouth buzz about your company and products.

While I know that this isn’t the end all list of benefits, it is a good place to begin thinking about the benefits that social media provides. Once you know what it can do, building strategies is your next course of action.

What has social media done for your company? Leave a comment! I would love to hear your story.

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About David Finch

David Finch

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Comments & Reactions

Comments Policy

Comments on Social Media Explorer are open to anyone. However, I will remove any comment that is disrespectful and not in the spirit of intelligent discourse. You are welcome to leave links to content relevant to the conversation, but I reserve the right to remove it if I don't see the relevancy. Be nice, have fun. Fair?

  • http://www.technihub.com/2009/06/26/15-great-social-media-posts-of-the-past-week/ 15 Great Social Media Posts of the Past Week | Technihub

    [...] Can Social Media Help Your Business? 2. Pitney Bowes branded community reduces customer support costs 3. The 12-Step Social Media [...]

  • http://blog.clearcastdigitalmedia.com/ Matthew Chamberlin

    Another rock solid post from SME.

    Is there a way that I can just have a direct pipeline from you guys to my clients? Would save me a lot of breath.

    Keep it up.

  • http://blog.clearcastdigitalmedia.com/ clearcast

    Another rock solid post from SME.

    Is there a way that I can just have a direct pipeline from you guys to my clients? Would save me a lot of breath.

    Keep it up.

  • http://blog.clearcastdigitalmedia.com/ clearcast

    Another rock solid post from SME.

    Is there a way that I can just have a direct pipeline from you guys to my clients? Would save me a lot of breath.

    Keep it up.

  • http://blog.clearcastdigitalmedia.com/ clearcast

    Another rock solid post from SME.

    Is there a way that I can just have a direct pipeline from you guys to my clients? Would save me a lot of breath.

    Keep it up.

  • http://blog.clearcastdigitalmedia.com/ clearcast

    Another rock solid post from SME.

    Is there a way that I can just have a direct pipeline from you guys to my clients? Would save me a lot of breath.

    Keep it up.

  • duncan_b

    David – this is a great article. I think you hit the nail on the head that social media tools are just that – tools – and like tools of any trade, they're not going to produce any meaningful result if one doesn't know how to select them to fit into their larger business strategies.

  • duncan_b

    David – this is a great article. I think you hit the nail on the head that social media tools are just that – tools – and like tools of any trade, they're not going to produce any meaningful result if one doesn't know how to select them to fit into their larger business strategies.

  • duncan_b

    David – this is a great article. I think you hit the nail on the head that social media tools are just that – tools – and like tools of any trade, they're not going to produce any meaningful result if one doesn't know how to select them to fit into their larger business strategies.

  • duncan_b

    David – this is a great article. I think you hit the nail on the head that social media tools are just that – tools – and like tools of any trade, they're not going to produce any meaningful result if one doesn't know how to select them to fit into their larger business strategies.

  • duncan_b

    David – this is a great article. I think you hit the nail on the head that social media tools are just that – tools – and like tools of any trade, they're not going to produce any meaningful result if one doesn't know how to select them to fit into their larger business strategies.

  • http://www.insidethewebb.com/ Jake

    Really awesome post, thanks for the share! Part of my daily ritual for marketing my blogs is to use many social media outlets such as Digg, StumbleUpon, and Reddit to increase my traffic.

  • http://www.insidethewebb.com/ Jake

    Really awesome post, thanks for the share! Part of my daily ritual for marketing my blogs is to use many social media outlets such as Digg, StumbleUpon, and Reddit to increase my traffic.

  • http://www.insidethewebb.com/ Jake

    Really awesome post, thanks for the share! Part of my daily ritual for marketing my blogs is to use many social media outlets such as Digg, StumbleUpon, and Reddit to increase my traffic.

  • http://www.insidethewebb.com/ Jake

    Really awesome post, thanks for the share! Part of my daily ritual for marketing my blogs is to use many social media outlets such as Digg, StumbleUpon, and Reddit to increase my traffic.

  • http://www.insidethewebb.com/ Jake

    Really awesome post, thanks for the share! Part of my daily ritual for marketing my blogs is to use many social media outlets such as Digg, StumbleUpon, and Reddit to increase my traffic.

  • http://whatawebsite.org/ whatawebsite

    Hallo David,

    Just discovered your blog.
    And will definitely be reading more.

    How did I come across you?

    Through Social media.
    Of course.

    How do the vast majority of people discover my websites ?
    I think you know the answer!!

    Social Media = ” What A Door Opener”

    Best wishes from Hamburg

    Will

  • http://whatawebsite.org/ whatawebsite

    Hallo David,

    Just discovered your blog.
    And will definitely be reading more.

    How did I come across you?

    Through Social media.
    Of course.

    How do the vast majority of people discover my websites ?
    I think you know the answer!!

    Social Media = ” What A Door Opener”

    Best wishes from Hamburg

    Will

  • http://whatawebsite.org/ whatawebsite

    Hallo David,

    Just discovered your blog.
    And will definitely be reading more.

    How did I come across you?

    Through Social media.
    Of course.

    How do the vast majority of people discover my websites ?
    I think you know the answer!!

    Social Media = ” What A Door Opener”

    Best wishes from Hamburg

    Will

  • http://whatawebsite.org/ whatawebsite

    Hallo David,

    Just discovered your blog.
    And will definitely be reading more.

    How did I come across you?

    Through Social media.
    Of course.

    How do the vast majority of people discover my websites ?
    I think you know the answer!!

    Social Media = ” What A Door Opener”

    Best wishes from Hamburg

    Will

  • http://whatawebsite.org/ whatawebsite

    Hallo David,

    Just discovered your blog.
    And will definitely be reading more.

    How did I come across you?

    Through Social media.
    Of course.

    How do the vast majority of people discover my websites ?
    I think you know the answer!!

    Social Media = ” What A Door Opener”

    Best wishes from Hamburg

    Will

  • http://www.egitisim-blog.com/ EÄŸitiÅŸim Kariyer Enstitüsü

    Dear David, we are on social media and we are getting help too much and cash also. İt helps us to increase blog and website pagerant blog is 5 website is 6 now. SO everything is going fine. Thank you. From Turkey

  • http://www.egitisim-blog.com/ EÄŸitiÅŸim Kariyer Enstitüsü

    Dear David, we are on social media and we are getting help too much and cash also. İt helps us to increase blog and website pagerant blog is 5 website is 6 now. SO everything is going fine. Thank you. From Turkey

  • http://www.egitisim-blog.com/ EÄŸitiÅŸim Kariyer Enstitüsü

    Dear David, we are on social media and we are getting help too much and cash also. İt helps us to increase blog and website pagerant blog is 5 website is 6 now. SO everything is going fine. Thank you. From Turkey

  • http://www.egitisim-blog.com/ EÄŸitiÅŸim Kariyer Enstitüsü

    Dear David, we are on social media and we are getting help too much and cash also. İt helps us to increase blog and website pagerant blog is 5 website is 6 now. SO everything is going fine. Thank you. From Turkey

  • http://www.egitisim-blog.com/ EÄŸitiÅŸim Kariyer Enstitüsü

    Dear David, we are on social media and we are getting help too much and cash also. İt helps us to increase blog and website pagerant blog is 5 website is 6 now. SO everything is going fine. Thank you. From Turkey

  • http://www.facebooklicious.com/ Facebook Applications

    Hey David,
    I have come across your blog and read your articles and i think its very unique and informative. Thanks for all your suggestions. And yes Social Media is quite useful for any kinda business. It promote their brands and services online and have a deep impact.

    Regards,
    866.568.6377

  • http://www.facebooklicious.com/ Facebook Applications

    Hey David,
    I have come across your blog and read your articles and i think its very unique and informative. Thanks for all your suggestions. And yes Social Media is quite useful for any kinda business. It promote their brands and services online and have a deep impact.

    Regards,
    866.568.6377

  • http://www.facebooklicious.com/ Facebook Applications

    Hey David,
    I have come across your blog and read your articles and i think its very unique and informative. Thanks for all your suggestions. And yes Social Media is quite useful for any kinda business. It promote their brands and services online and have a deep impact.

    Regards,
    866.568.6377

  • http://www.facebooklicious.com/ Facebook Applications

    Hey David,
    I have come across your blog and read your articles and i think its very unique and informative. Thanks for all your suggestions. And yes Social Media is quite useful for any kinda business. It promote their brands and services online and have a deep impact.

    Regards,
    866.568.6377

  • http://www.facebooklicious.com/ Facebook Applications

    Hey David,
    I have come across your blog and read your articles and i think its very unique and informative. Thanks for all your suggestions. And yes Social Media is quite useful for any kinda business. It promote their brands and services online and have a deep impact.

    Regards,
    866.568.6377

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  • http://www.facebookster.com/ Facebook Application Developer

    Yes Social Media can help alot in promoting brands and business. You can use facebook for promoting your brand and your online services. Thanks for sharing such informative post.

  • http://www.facebookster.com/ Facebook Application Developer

    Yes Social Media can help alot in promoting brands and business. You can use facebook for promoting your brand and your online services. Thanks for sharing such informative post.

  • http://www.facebookster.com/ Facebook Application Developer

    Yes Social Media can help alot in promoting brands and business. You can use facebook for promoting your brand and your online services. Thanks for sharing such informative post.

  • http://www.facebookster.com/ Facebook Application Developer

    Yes Social Media can help alot in promoting brands and business. You can use facebook for promoting your brand and your online services. Thanks for sharing such informative post.

  • http://www.facebookster.com/ Facebook Application Developer

    Yes Social Media can help alot in promoting brands and business. You can use facebook for promoting your brand and your online services. Thanks for sharing such informative post.

  • http://sazbean.com/2009/06/29/internet-marketing-strategy-technology-links-june-29-2009/ Internet Marketing, Strategy & Technology Links – June 29, 2009 « Sazbean

    [...] Can Social Media Help Your Business? (Social Media Explorer) [...]

  • http://suelachapelle.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/can-social-media-help-your-business/ Can Social Media Help Your Business? « Suzanne LaChapelle’s Weblog

    [...] Read full article > [...]

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgWg3KXQ1zU Buy Advertising

    I have found that feedback is very valuable for my blog. I produced a video to help promote my service. Then I gathered feedback from bloggers. They told me to shorten the video, decrease the volume of the music etc. etc. If you want to see the finished video, you can go to my web site.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgWg3KXQ1zU Buy Advertising

    I have found that feedback is very valuable for my blog. I produced a video to help promote my service. Then I gathered feedback from bloggers. They told me to shorten the video, decrease the volume of the music etc. etc. If you want to see the finished video, you can go to my web site.

  • huangqin
  • freeadvertisingforum

    All true but it is very time consuming. Maybe a good article would be how to delegate social networking responsibilities.

  • freeadvertisingforum

    All true but it is very time consuming. Maybe a good article would be how to delegate social networking responsibilities.

  • Marcy1

    Thanks for enumerating the advantages of Social Media. I certainly believe that Social Media can help your business to boom fast & easy. You just need to create a solid social network and develop a harmonious relationship with your online friends/followers in order to achieve success. With a minimal effort, your business will be exposed to millions of internet users who eventually become your potential loyal customers.

  • Marcy1

    Thanks for enumerating the advantages of Social Media. I certainly believe that Social Media can help your business to boom fast & easy. You just need to create a solid social network and develop a harmonious relationship with your online friends/followers in order to achieve success. With a minimal effort, your business will be exposed to millions of internet users who eventually become your potential loyal customers.

  • http://scplbusiness.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/social-media-job-searching-business/ Social Media: Job Searching & Business « SCPL Employment & Business Resources

    [...] Many social media programs are free and the numbers of users are growing daily.  Check out this blog for more information on how to use social media for your [...]

  • rajiv

    Nice tips..
    Blogs are an excellent way to achieve faster indexing and gain extended visibility. Catch some more tips at
    http://www.redalkemi.com/blog/how-to-promote-bu…

  • http://hijos.atspace.com/ Hijos

    Yeah, nice tips man!

  • http://www.inkatechnology.co.uk/ Social Media Applications

    There is no question at all regarding effectiveness of social media or web 2.0 when it is done right. If I just hang a blog or video out there, it works good. If I share it on my social media platforms, the participation is much greater!

  • http://socialmediaexplorer.com JasonFalls

    Thanks for the comment.

  • http://bajionline.com Baji Milici

    David I liked your article so much, that I quoted it in my new blog: http://baji-online.com and put you as the author. I just couldn't have said it better.
    I just completed an extensive course by a high-profile social media Diva (and that is now what I am attaining to~~ Social Media Diva) so that I can take on clients, create and maintain their profiles. Yes, I am a Social Media Manager and Virtual Assistant. And I would love to be contacted to do your work for you and get you set up. Please contact me on Facebook as bajionline fan page (Baji Milici) ~~ I am really excited about my new job!

  • http://bajionline.com Baji Milici

    David I liked your article so much, that I quoted it in my new blog: http://baji-online.com and put you as the author. I just couldn't have said it better.
    I just completed an extensive course by a high-profile social media Diva (and that is now what I am attaining to~~ Social Media Diva) so that I can take on clients, create and maintain their profiles. Yes, I am a Social Media Manager and Virtual Assistant. And I would love to be contacted to do your work for you and get you set up. Please contact me on Facebook as bajionline fan page (Baji Milici) ~~ I am really excited about my new job!

  • Cm

    VEry good article. I'm going to send the link out to my customer group.

  • Nevershouttayluhh

    This article helped me out a lot on my social media/business project. Thanks!

  • http://www.arcologodesign.fi/ arco mainostoimisto

    I should start to use social media for my business.. Thanks for helping!

  • Tom Novak

    Social is a Future
    http://www.katalogi.co

  • http://www.sunjewelry.com/engagement-rings.html Engagement Rings

    really very true.