Article on The Exporter Magazine- E-Business: Myth or Reality”

“How important is social media in today’s business?” 

Well considering Google gets over 2.5 billion searches a day, that there are 150,000,000 professionals and 2 Million companies on LinkedIn, plus over 600,000 companies registered on Foursquare.com and over 800,000,000 users on Facebook. These are serious figures that must be taken into account when planning your business plan and marketing strategy.

The statistics from the Nielsen online market report tells it all.

SOCIAL NETWORKS & BLOGS NOW 4TH MOST POPULAR ONLINE ACTIVITY, AHEAD OF PERSONAL EMAIL, NIELSEN REPORTS

“Time Spent” on These Sites Growing Three Times Faster than Overall Internet Rate, Now Accounting for Almost 10 Percent of all Internet Time.

“Social networking isn’t just growing rapidly, it’s evolving - both in terms of a broader audience and compelling new functionality,” says Alex Burmaster, author of the study and Communications Director across EMEA for Nielsen Online.

Source: http://www.nielsen-online.com/pr/pr_090309.pdf

Barrack Obama used Facebook to get Elected, Dell, Smirnoff and over major brands are using it to create “Demand” and “Brand Awareness”.

Business leaders and Companies have today all the tools to create and implement a strategy to reach their niche market. Online budgets are set to exceed offline budgets this 2012. Companies have realised that consumers are now reachable via Mobile, Internet Tv and Social Networks. They can’t ignore this “Growing Trend” and must “Re-form” their marketing strategy.  

It is not simply about creating a Facebook, Twitter Page or A YouTube Channel. You need to answer a simple question?

What is the end goal, why are you using social networks for?

Is it to reach more clients?

Or are you offering a new “Customer Service” via Social Media?

These are real case studies you can find online:

1-     Dell opened Dell Outlet on Twitter to service their clients and made a $4Million T/O in 2010.

2-     Starbucks take orders via Twitter (FREE)

3-     AT&T has the best customer service rating using Facebook Pages. They employ 20 staffs to service 1Million Facebook Fans (Most of which are CLIENTS or PROSPECTS).

Today you can advertise on all these search engines and networking sites.

Google AdWords, Facebook & LinkedIn advertising, or simply registering and offering a discount to your Mayor on Foursquare.

All these tools are available for your business and brand to grow. You need to use them or have a professional company helping you set up an online marketing strategy.

I hate to see major companies opening Facebook Pages and others accounts and not replying to online queries. This is just like not answering the phone or not replying to an email you just received about your product and services.

So “YES” is it very important to include Social Media in your Marketing plan and use it for your business growth. Shall you need more information about Social Media Management, Marketing, Optimization; Page Administrator can help, simply visit us at www.pageadministrator.com and “Like Us” at www.facebook.com/YourSocialMediaPA

Serge Sebastien STAUB

Director STAUB Marketing Pty Ltd

social@pageadministrator.com