Social Media Must be a Part of Your Marketing Plan - GROW Nebraska

Filed Under: Social Media, Sonya on December 19, 2012

I often hear small business owners say, ?but I don?t have time for social media.? ?Others look at me in bewilderment when the topic is mentioned and it is obvious they don?t understand what ?social media? is and how it could effect their business.

Because of technology, traditional marketing (TV, radio and print) has been joined by the fast growing realm of social media.? It could be detrimental to your business and its brand if you do not learn to include social media in your marketing plan. ?Let?s try to put a definition to social media and get a handle on what it could mean for your business?

Investopedia.com?defines ?social media? as internet-based software and interfaces that allow individuals to interact with one another, exchanging details about their lives such as biographical data, professional?information, personal photos and up-to-the-minute thoughts.?Social media?originated as strictly a personal tool that people used to interact with friends and family but were later adopted by businesses that wanted to take advantage of a popular new communication method to reach out to customers, for example, by?informing?them of sales and offering them special coupons. A few of the most popular platforms include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Google+, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Heidi Cohen in her blog post,?30 Social Media Definitions, quoted Sally Falkow ? APR, PRESSfeed: Markets have become conversations.?Social media?are the online platforms and locations that provide a way for people to participate in these conversations. For individuals it is a way to connect and share content with friends and like-minded people.? For businesses it?s a way to tap into what people are saying about your brand, your product and/or your service, participate in the conversations, be open to new ideas and then use these insights to make better business decisions.

Lets jump in and get your feet wet. I want you to connect to the following GROW Nebraska links. ?There are many more but lets start small. ?If you have problems connecting, please email us at info@grownebraska.org.? Hint: if you don?t have a Facebook page or Twitter account, you will have to establish one before you can connect to ours.

GROW Nebraska Blog>>

GROW Nebraska Facebook>>

GROW Nebraska Twitter>>

By committing to these links (yes, you can remove yourself at anytime) you will begin to see social media at work. Now this does require some effort on your part.? Commenting, liking, and sharing is the key to success.? For example, if you like the information contained in this blog make a comment below and share it on your business Facebook page and business Twitter account by clicking on the corresponding icons below. The more active you are the more viral your business name and brand becomes.

Are you getting a glimpse of how important ?social media? is for the growth of your business? GROW Nebraska is committed to connecting Nebraska businesses to the global marketplace and will continue this conversation through additional blog articles.? We have just touched the tip of this iceberg. Comment below and tell me what you would like to know about social media.

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GROW Nebraska? is an Entrepreneurial Service Organization, which is membership-based and driven. GROW helps maximize the state?s entrepreneurial spirit and build the global reputation of Nebraska businesses by providing ?entrepreneurial coaching? and market access opportunities to its members. To learn more about GROW Nebraska and Nebraska entrepreneurs and businesses, visit the GROW Web site at?www.grownebraska.org

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Source: http://www.growneb.com/blog/social-media-must-be-a-part-of-your-marketing-plan/

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