widemouthed pool: Social Media: A True Business Opportunity ? Jibe Talkin'

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Social Media: A True Business Opportunity ? Jibe Talkin'

Social media continues to be on the move. It continues to present a viable business opportunity. Forward thinking brands have understood this opportunity for some time, but 2013 is proving to be a game-changing year for the masses.

Back in the early 2000s, in response to the opportunity to have a website, it is not difficult to recall many business leaders saying: ?I don?t need a website.? And then adding some justification like: ?I don?t do e-commerce,? or ?My customers aren?t on the Internet.? Today, that is absurd. It is understood that to be a viable business, a website is an absolute must.

Today?s business environment has also shown that a web ?site? is no longer sufficient. Today requires a web ?presence.? However, simply being more present is not sufficient either. The new standard is, and will continue to be, having a web presence of relevance and value.

Web presence is now considered to be a fully visible and activated presence of new media. By this, I mean to say that your web and social assets are consistently kept up-to-date, and are based on a well-conceived strategy for providing the right content that is relevant and of value to your audience.

Since each web and social asset presents a different opportunity and strategy for each business, it?s difficult to have a defined list of how to create a strong, effective web presence. But to start somewhere, the standard presence for most businesses typically includes: your website, blog, and social assets such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and a branded YouTube channel. In addition, other assets, like Pinterest, Instagram, and Slideshare, are important considerations.

But again, this is not a call to get on Facebook or start Tweeting. This is a call to understand the business opportunity of engaging your audience.

Here are a few questions to consider:

Are you listening? With several tools available, this is a must, and an important place to start.
What is your content strategy for different types of content, namely, relevant and timely content, valuable content, attractive content, and lead generating content?
Who are the thought leaders in your company that can contribute, if not lead the way with blog posts and other content creation?
Is your brand identity strong and cohesive across all assets?
Does your strategy include ROI as an expectation? It should.

2013 is gearing up to be a game-changing year for bringing businesses and social media together. ?Social?usage in the U.S. has increased?356%?in six years. These days, the question isn?t should you use social media or not, but rather,?is your use of social media better or worse than your competitors??