B2B Social Media Benefits Are Maximized With A Clear Strategy

Chuck Rutledge : Now Market It
Chuck Rutledge
Sr. Mktg & Biz.Development Executive who excels at identifying, and capitalizing, on opportunities that drive revenues & growth. Introduced new products and services, and opened up new markets for Fortune 500 companies & start ups.

B2B Social Media Benefits Are Maximized With A Clear Strategy

 Facebook, LinkedIn, twitter and all the other forums for social media are all the buzz.  And rightfully so - it is changing peoples' communications habits.  There are now ongoing conversations taking place on-line about every topic, and as a marketer you want to be included in the conversation.   Social media is a great opportunity to communicate with your constituencies and prospects and stay fresh, relevant and top of mind.  Better yet, you can become the topic of conversation.

For B2B marketers, the challenge of being the topic of conversation is a bit greater.  You want to be the topic of conversation in places where buyers go to look to make decisions about products like yours.  Like other elements of the marketing mix, it is critical to view social media as part of an overall communications plan directed by a marketing strategy.  But, as is too often the case - organizations move right to tactics that are implemented without a strategy or cohesive plan.  Social Media is no different than other elements of your communications plan.  "We need to get on LinkedIn, Facebook and twitter" is not a plan.

As with the entire marketing mix, it starts with your target customers.  How are they making their decisions, what information do they need, who influences them?  You want them to have all the information they need at the time they are looking to make a decision.  The ability to do this will be based on your ability to be viewed as a reliable authority.  Being knowledgeable and acknowledged as such by the relevant community provides that credibility.  This requires not just providing valuable relevant content, but being active in the conversation.

Delivering a consistent message in the right places, at the right times, with valuable content and active participation will all add up to success.  This requires having a supporting theme and a coordinated approach in all communications including: the company website, e-mail, blogs and social media, in such a way that they work together, complement each other and support one another. 



Feedback for B2B Social Media Benefits Are Maximized With A Clear Strategy

2 Comments

York Saw & Knife is an industrial manufacturer of cutting tools and we've carefully started using social media, however we've seen many B2Bs stay away.

Is this a lack of result of a strategic plan, inability to see the benefit, or just ignorance?

We recently published a poll asking "Why do B2Bs stay away from social media?" We'd appreciate your input and that of your readers.

The poll can be found on our most recent blog post: B2B and Social Media: Take the Poll!


Thanks.

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