Social Network Marketing

At the dawn of the social network era, early adopters and forward thinking marketers were able to take advantage of opportunities that networks like Digg and Del.icio.us offered; they were new, they were cool, and they had rapid base of users just waiting for the next story to come along.

Things are changing. Now every marketer thinks about how they can use these sites to their advantage, and the social network demographic has become increasingly savvy in dealing with overt marketing attempts.

Gone are the pre-Internet days when people would simply turn the page, or change the channel if they didn’t like your advertisement. Online, the eyeballs you’re targeting are attached to fingers that have their own blogs who aren’t afraid to flame you.

But love them or hate them, Social networks are making an evolution as a marketing vehicle.

Not because they’re cool, and with a new social network opening daily, certainly not because the genre is unique, but because each new social network provides a doorway to a new, niche, target demographic. And every new community that sprouts online offers the savvy marketer a new channel to spread their message across.

But a Word of Warning…

Like people on the other side of any doorway you ever walk through, online communities that have grown up around your favorite social network are going to take offense if you barge in and start throwing your sales pitch around… And then the flaming begins.

In a social environment, subtlety works much better.

So, how do you start your subtle social network marketing program?

This resource is an excellent place to start!

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eCommerce & Marketing & Advertising & SEO/SEM & Social Media 28 Nov 2006 11:49 am

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6 Responses

Debbie W. Says:
November 29th, 2006 at 10:22 am
I submitted three or four of my articles to sites like digfg, but they get ignored, burried or worse.

It is a frustrating way to try and market.
Charlie Cook Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 10:31 am
The problem with most people’s networking efforts is they’re doing it wrong. The most effective way to use networking to generate business is to avoid selling via networking.

Here are the simple rules for small business marketing networking success.

1. Don’t tell people what you do, tell them how you help people, e.g. “I help people…”

2. Give them a helpful idea, or better yet a steady stream of helpful ideas. The more you give the more business you’ll get in return.

3. Stay in touch every at least every month.

It’s not who you know, it’s who knows how you can help them.
Michael Valiant Says:
December 4th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
Debbie W.

It can be frustrating, but there are some things you can do to help:

1. Don’t submit your articles under your own name! (at least… not every time)

2. Don’t be obvious, or better, offer something of obvious value and interest.

3. Ask your mailing list to ‘Digg’ your articles (or whatever your preferred network is)

4. Don’t over-submit

5. Try analyzing the stories that actually DO make the front page, to get ideas on what may make it!

Members of sites like Digg and Del.icio.us are pretty savvy when it comes to figuring out what is self-promotion and what is actually valid and interesting content.

Hope this helps!

Michael
swissreplica1 Says:
January 15th, 2007 at 6:55 am
hello, it’s good idea
Kathy Says:
February 21st, 2007 at 10:29 pm
If you’re planning on joining any social community as a way to promote your web site and/or your business, then please first learn the unwritten rules of the land. The only way you’ll learn those rules is to become a participant first.

Just as you wouldn’t crash a wedding party and begin handing out business cards to the guests, you should avoid diving into any online social gathering spot and begin inserting yourself into conversations with the intention of “promoting” your business.

Whether it’s Myspace, Digg or even Second Life, there are unwritten social rules that MUST be followed and there’s no way to know those rules without first becoming part of the community.

All of the above are EXCELLENT resources for finding clients, but first and foremost you MUST become PART of the community before you can sell to it.

Think of it as “people have problems and you are offering solutions”. When you look at marketing in that manner, suddenly the veil is lifted and the mystery revealed.
Deverout Says:
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:55 am
Nothing Venture, Nothing Gain.
Social Network is the Single most important site on the net