For sure, if you have the right plan social media can blend with traditional advertising to drive more sales!
Social media offerings are now more of a “need to have versus a nice to have” for many businesses. But going from a “lean back” disengaged experience with an F and T on a home page to the lean-forward, “I-need-to deliver-relevant-information” experience requires a well thought out plan.
The domain of creating a meaningful social media presence has migrated from pure digital and web design shops populated by sneaker wearing youth who “get it” to traditional advertising and public relations agencies. In taking the mantle, these agencies not only get it but more importantly have developed techniques for integrating social media to strengthen existing marketing campaigns and bring out the best in both.
And the single right agency to blend your advertising with social media becomes more obvious if you look for these four “what you should be looking for’s” in an agency.
1. Should be strong on marketing strategy… planning it takes to find the right combination from all the possibilities to position your message in front of your customers at the least cost with the best results.
2. Should be strong on the execution of traditional marketing. Tools like advertising; TV, radio, print; creative in their own studio; brochures and branding… anything that you currently use or might think should be a part of the way you market your business.
3. If you can get an agency strong on public relations, should be talking about how the pr business has changed dramatically over the past couple of years, that newspapers are a fleeting target and writing more than half their releases to be read on-line possibly never to appear in print. And about writing your message in a key word rich style to attract Google spiders to your website.
4. Should have social media on the mind of every person in every brainstorm working session. Ask at what point they bring the social media person in on their discussions. If the answer sounds like “when we need them” then they will be planning what they are comfortable with and bringing in social media as an add on. So last year’s habit. It’s about setting the goals and expectations for social media every time you talk about moving a business forward.
This is a huge step forward to the way ad and pr agencies deliver comprehensive services. Most will claim they get it, some will actually deliver. Go through the “shoulds” and find the right agency for you.
Can’t think of a more exciting time to get on board.
For more ideas to drive sales check out the archives or visit Ambit Advertising and Public Relations.
Related posts:
- Can Social Media Blend with Traditional Advertising to Drive More Sales? Part 2
- Can Social Media Blend with Traditional Advertising to Drive More Sales? Part 1
- Trying to find your place with Web 2.0?
- Fishing for Social Media Opportunities in the Stream of Life
- Mingling and Marketing on the Social Media Scene
