Alberta Business Marketing

When does Social Media stop being viral and start being infectious? It is happening right now.

Over the past year and a bit, many social media professionals have been sharing the importance of having a quality video done by a professional, a great blog or some sort of social media marketing message with an aim to take it viral.  Taking something viral online is not easy, it takes a tremendous amount of time, effort and focus. Most of time we sit back and scratch our heads asking why it didn’t take off?  The video which goes viral is something silly and has no real message behind it – how many dancing babies are shared across the Internet?

There is a shift occurring out there, many services are teaming up or putting in connectors to hook into your LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter accounts looking at farming your existing contacts to connect into their new network.  What is the difference between viral and infectious?  I am beginning to think that many social media services are now looking at ways to become infectious instead of viral.  What do I mean?

My experience with Naymz

I will take my recent experience with Naymz.  Naymz is trying real hard, in my opinion to become the next LinkedIn.  The jury is still out on Namyz as another online social media service to put effort into.   There are just so many of these services out there like Plaxo, Naymz and Biznik to name a few.  My experience with Namyz has been a tad bit embarrassing and the reason for my blog post today.  This is where the infectious mindset sets in and it was totally my fault.

I am starting to see more and more of this behaviour from the upstart social media services and those struggling for attention are heading.  In this example I will focus on my experience with Naymz.  With my approval (insert slap in face here) Namyz went through my entire LinkedIn contact list and emailed every single person asking them to join Naymz.  Wait!  I just did what?

Another area of concern is around “Connect with Facebook” and “Twitter Open Authorization”.  When we grant access using these tools and services infects our online communities, what do we do next?  Is my entire Friends or Follows list now open to this application who used these services to connect?  What happens to my reputation online or my trusted colleagues?

When is enough, enough?

Tags: Community websites, Facebook, Facebook Inc, linkedin, LinkedIn Ltd, media marketing message, media professionals, media service, media services, Naymz, online communities, Online social networking, Plaxo, Social information processing, social media, Technology/Internet, Twitter, Twitter Inc, web 2.0, World Wide Web
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There has been a number of people claiming to be Social Media Experts who are attempting to capitalize on the  social media craze. Social Media technologies are not going anywhere and now they are woven into the fabric of business communications.  However, knowing this, there are a number of social media professionals in Calgary and I am sure this trend is occurring everywhere in the world.  People looking to make a quick buck on the social media rage out there.

Why your business doesn’t need a social media consultant?

Wait, isn’t this what I do for a living?

Not exactly, David and I are more than just social media consultants.  Ulistic’s focus is on the entire web marketing strategy for small business.  As professionals in the “all up” approach on Internet Consulting, we totally understand that social media is just one piece of a very complex puzzle.  Our complete approach is very different from many of the social media consultants who are popping out of the woodwork, just like a dandelion on a spring day.

Tip:  If you want to know the biggest difference, just look at their website.  This is a strong indication if they are a complete marketing professional or just someone offering to write your blogs, tweet for you or update your Facebook page.

Your business doesn’t need someone to do your social media for you.  This is something the business must own.  Ulistic core message is on helping business owners, directors and executives who have business websites to become owners of their web presence.

When it comes to Social Media, Twitter is merely 140 characters and the truth be told, is a great way to listen and learn about things happening in your community, with suppliers and perhaps learn about events happening around the city.  Some of my clients never send out a tweet, all they do is listen.  Twitter on its own will not sell products or even have some one pick up the phone and call you.  Remember the core lesson of business and sales which I learn learned from Bob Burg.  People do business with those they KNOW, LIKE and TRUST.  Simply tweeting, blogging and Facebook is not enough.

Facebook Fan Pages are also gaining in popularity and once again on its own…doesn’t make me want to pick up the phone and call any business let alone join as a fan.  Just leave your Facebook idle for a couple of days and see how many invites you get to join someone’s fan page.  My own strategy is never to join a fan page of someone I don’t know, never have worked with or don’t feel comfortable endorsing face-to-face.

Familiarization, mentoring and education is the secret

David and I are completely focused on empowering business in Calgary and those across the globe so they take ownership of their entire social media and web marketing strategies.  It is not about doing, it is about empowering and educating our clients so they know what we know and ultimately they can do it for themselves.

At the end of the day it is about lead generation.  You can be the best thought leader, community player or blogger…but if you are not generating leads for your business, what are you doing?  This is what we teach our clients…how to create new lead generation activities, one of my clients just emailed me and told me her new blog has generated her first lead. Love it when this happens.

Sure, we can kick-start a campaign, but at the end of the day…you, the business owner, VP Marketing, Director of Business Development are ultimately responsible for your web marketing and overall business strategy.

Tags: Blog hosting services, Business, business communications, Business/Finance, Calgary, Consultants, Facebook, Facebook Inc, Internet Consulting, Internet Marketing, Media consultant, media consultants, media professionals, Online social networking, sales, Social information processing, social media, social media consultant, social media consultants, social media professionals, Social Media Ventures Inc, The Facebook Era, Twitter, Twitter Inc, VP Marketing Director of Business Development, web 2.0, web marketing, web marketing professionals, web marketing strategy, web presence, World Wide Web
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OK, maybe it is a bit more than just 4 tweets on Twitter.

I have discussed on my blog many times in the past about the “so-called” Social Media professional phenomena that is emerging today.  Everywhere you turn there seems to be a few hundred “social media professionals” coming out of the woodwork here in Calgary.  Are you concerned as a business owner which one you should turn to for advice on how to implement this as a strategy for your business?  Or should you?

I had a friend in my office and we joked about what makes a social media professional?  We concluded that the “so-called” professionals achieve their qualification simply by sending out their mandatory four tweets.

Does your Calgary business really need someone like this?

This is a great question.

Does your business really need a social media specialist?  I would say NO, if that is all they are doing for you.  But you need more, what about your strategy?

When it comes to “so-called” professionals, you know the people who are out there.  The ones who say you have to be on Twitter!  Your business needs a Facebook page!  Just get a LinkedIn profile and you will fine.  What is the substance behind the reasoning is often something I think about.  Why? How? When? Where?

• Does social media play into your public relations strategy?
• How about your marketing and sales plan?
• What happens if you get a negative review on Yelp, how do you respond?

I received an email from one of these “so-called” Social Media experts in Calgary last week and I almost hurt myself when I read the reason why this person got into social media. It was hilarious.  I mean not for the business owner in Calgary who is concerned about the success of their business, but the overall trend that is happening in the industry today.  This person claims to have sold promotional materials for a number of years but now wants to get into to helping business with social media.

Here is the reality about Social Media in Calgary from the way I see it.

Social Media is simply a spoke in your overall marketing and corporate communications strategy.  That is it, maybe some will say a cornerstone…I will buy that one as well.

On its own, Social Media doesn’t have a leg to stand on.  But when it is combined with effective marketing and sales planning, corporate communication tactics and your staff are actually meeting the needs of your clients it can be a wonderful part of your overall business strategy.

Maybe, just maybe it is more than just 4 tweets to being a professional.  I may take someone who has business success.

Tags: Business/Finance, Calgary, Corporate communication, corporate communications strategy, Facebook Inc, LinkedIn Ltd, media professionals, Real-time web, social media, social media specialist, Social Media Ventures Inc, Strategic management, Twitter, Twitter Inc, web 2.0, World Wide Web
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