Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and most recently Google+ have changed the way modern-day consumers communicate. This has far-reaching implications for the ways in which marketers will be required to communicate with consumers today and in the time to come.

Social Media Optimization

With 750 million users, Facebook is the most important social network to focus on. But other social media platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, and Google+ should also be put to good use. Social media platforms offer the very best, most direct, and highly effective communication with potential as well as existing consumers where:

• Potential customers will be able to tell you what exactly they are looking for and
• Existing customers will be able to share their experience of your products or services to give you an idea about what shouldn’t be or what’s missing

As brand promoters as well as lay users increasingly socialize online, the former will be called on to develop new strategies, infuse greater levels of creativity in their communiques, and explore any other ways of making their brand more popular, more attractive, and more ‘liked’. The gift of gab will be the single most important instrument in the hands of the more verbally inclined promoters.

Online social platforms offer far more effective and direct communication between you and your consumers. The two-way flow of that exchange has full potential to increase brand awareness, induce public opinion, and decide the future of your brand faster than you can say social out aloud. That of course means that social media optimization will be a darling of marketing honchos for a long time to come, but also that they will have to be entrusted to those with a flair for conveying the right message at the right time to the right folks.

There again, ongoing research into consumers’ behavior patterns and preferences will be of utmost importance. Unless you have premium content to offer online, there will be no point in rushing to go get your brand a Facebook page or Twitter login. It may even be counter-productive to dive right in.

(To be continued…)