We have all seen the social media sharing tools at the bottom of every blog and news post and video and infographic. The little boxes with the Twitter T, the Facebook F, the Google Plus G, and the little email icon. They make sharing that specific post on a variety of social media as easy as the single click of a button.
But the social media themselves can be used as social media marketing tools. Just think about the reach that the right post could have on Facebook, or the audience that a well-timed tweet could reach on Twitter. Granted, as a set of social media tools for business, the techniques are still being tweaked and perfected, but plenty of companies have seen roaring successes in using these sites as active social media marketing tools.
That being said, there have been more failures than successes at this point. We just do not remember the failures because they did not reach enough of the right people. There are a few different aspects of social media that must be taken into consideration if you want your new social media marketing tools campaign to get off of the ground.
1. Timing
The best time to release a new post, tweet, blog, or statement is somewhere between eight and 10 in the morning. This is prime internet procrastination time because people are just getting to work, but checking their social media outlets one last time before delving into the work day. If you want the most people to see it and share it right away, that is the time to do it. Any later and it will not be seen by a wide enough audience because it will become buried in the rest of the posts and tweets that accumulate over the rest of the day.
2. Audience
Play and cater to the right people, those who will have the most effect on the campaign you are trying to get started. Granted more people will end up seeing it, and that is still a good thing. But by picking the right group to play to, you are choosing who will respond the best, and therefore spread it the most.
3. Delivery
This ties into your Audience. If you are playing to the baby boomer crowd, you certainly do not want to use internet slang and the jargon of the current generation. Your presentation should play to what appeals to them the most, and will catch their interest most effectively. The same can be said for if you are actually trying to get the current generation interested. Know the strengths and weaknesses, the likes and dislikes, of whom you want to respond to your campaign.
Social media is tricky in the best of situations. But when you have a lot riding on a campaign, it can seem downright impossible. But your social media tools are some of the most effective you have at your disposal, if you know how to use them. Keep these simple details in mind the next time you are ready to launch a new campaign, and you have a much better chance for success.
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