Archive for February, 2010

“What is the difference between social media and social networking?”

“Should my company be doing it?”

“What does that mean for us?”

“Who should manage it?”

“Will it work? Or am I just wasting our money?”

These are just a few of the things that go through the mind of any business owner considering launching a social media marketing initiative for their company. But the issue is both broader and more narrow than the questions listed above. Really, the starting point should be: “Should social media be part of our marketing mix?” The next question should be “Can we support a social media effort?”

The answers to the two questions above are crucial. Not every company is prepared to launch a social media marketing initiative. Nor should every company launch one. While social media marketing can be an amazing and effective tool, the decision to launch a social media effort should be carefully considered. A social media marketing effort should be strategic and carefully planned, so as to maximize results and minimize any potential issues.

And trust us, any time you launch a new initiative – especially one in as public an arena as social media – problems can arise!

So before assuming that cheap exposure and easy maintenance are actually cheap or easy, do your homework. Talk with your marketing team, talk with your management team, and consider talking with us. Use the collective savvy around you to determine if social media is right for your organization. Once you have done that, you can begin to put a plan in place.

Need help moving to the next phase? Let us know and we’ll be happy to help you out!