Social Media

             Social media is an effective tool for advertising in this communication age. Its more about communicating the customers rather than simply informing. Today’s communication tools are blogs, twitter, facebook, linkedin, and many other require customers engagement in information. An advertise through TV, radio , magazine is just an information whereas a dialogue is created in social media to engage a customer. In other words social media is a media plus a social activity to attract your customers toward your business.

Social media usage could be different depending upon the nature of the business.for example; A retail company use social media to improve customer service listing all the inside and outside activities they are doing for customers. Their all posts show their concern to customer.An insurance company uses it to inform customers about everything it’s doing for community. All the posts would be about events they are sponsoring and contributing in.  Therefore social media is more than listing good or attractive things you are offering. Instead it is about communicating the core concept and message you want to portray about the company.

Guidelines to use social media

There are number of guidelines to use social media. Some of them are

·         All the posts should focus on building a repute and positive image of the company

·         There should not be fake names or accounts to be used as employees which are posting on behalf of company. There must be clearly disclosed that who are posting and what role he plays within organization

·         Customers as a whole should be addressed rather than specifying names unless it is necessary. So that no one feels out of the scene.

·         Posts should be accurate and truthful without factual errors since transparency is a key to build trust.

·         Confidential information or personal communications among employees should not be disclosed.

·         All posts should follow local, state or federal laws if applied

Social media is an essential tools in today’s business so no business can ignore it. Businesses must design proper advertising and communicating ways to attract more people through this effective tool.

How social media could be used by Direct Marketers

Although some companies take social media as only a new channel for building awareness in customers but it has an unbelievable potential for direct marketers. A recent survey of social media tells that direct marketers are incorporating it in their email marketing programs. Companies like amazon are taking big advantages of social media by using twitter to market products and communicate with their large number of followers by its exclusive offers. Dell infact made $2 million in sales by its twitter feed @DellOutlet.

 In fact social media is a very powerful and direct channel of communication. Integrating the two powerful channels of direct marketing , email and social media can make incredible. It allows direct marketers to have more complete and direct view of its customers to deliver relevant and effective information.

            Direct marketing should also be measurable in terms of success. So its very important to keep social media in consideration because social media campaigns can be easily tracked, measured and can be easily improved.