How To: Be a Social Media Winner

July 30, 2009 | Sarah Chong

winner Many businesses are looking at social media through rose tinted glasses but who can blame them?

No one can deny the power of social media and the shifting trend in marketing.Above that, no one wants to be left out. Unfortunately, equivalent to the misfit in high school trying to blend into the cool gang, many businesses are looking inadequate.

To become a social media winner is not easy but I know you wouldn’t want to lose either – so here’s your guide to success.

Love What You Do

This might sound old but who can argue against it? You can only last this long in social media if you don’t love it. Soon we will see more abandoned social network accounts and inactive blog sites. If you have no interest in social media yourself but think it would work for your business, hire someone who has.

Be Human

With all due respect, many businesses are bots and have problems understanding why there is a word “social” in front of “media”. There is not much to the equation; you have to be personal and gregarious. People want a 2-way communication, not mere hourly updates that lack in human touch.

Tell me, which one would you prefer?

You Got To Let Go

Even in the digital world functioning mostly on user-generated content, some marketers want to take full control of the message. For the last time, consumers are sick of you shouting messages at them to buy a product. This is again; a 1-way communication that is ought to be condemned. Allow your consumers to create the message with you. Ask them to post what they like about your brand and products and let their big ideas ride with you. What could be better than empowering your consumers to promote you?

Online and Offline As One

Why separate the efforts when they can join forces to help you succeed? Many businesses perceive offline and online marketing as two separate entities and hence dealt with them differently. Starbucks is already moving ahead of companies by integrating its offline marketing effort with social media. New York Times reported in May that Starbucks challenged online fans to hunt for its newly launched outdoor ad posters, and be the first to post a photo of one on Twitter. Share a Pint of Starbucks® Ice Cream is another campaign done by Starbucks through Facebook and offline marketing.

Dare to Try

To better understand which types of social media your consumers have an appetite for, you got to do a little research and experiment. Try out different social media tools for your campaigns and measure the response. Did they meet your expectations? What did you learn about your audience’s preferences? While some performance and goals are immeasurable, most are. But how do we measure them?

Use the Numbers

Web analytics are pretty much freely or cheaply available to all. Use the numbers and charts to monitor your social media performance and goals. If a campaign works right for you, try it again the next time. If it doesn’t, find out why before dropping it completely. A winner strategizes before making decisions and so should you. Use the numbers to understand your target audience better.

Tips without real life examples are bullshit. See and learn how the Top 10 Most Engaging Brands on the Web rock social media.