Everything associated with the web is about speed — download speeds, upload speeds, broadband speeds, early adopters, instant feedback and viral campaigns.
Fast is good. And fast is particularly good for marketers. A single tweet, blog post or YouTube video can spread across the Internet in hours, touching countless people, fuelled by nothing more than its own momentum.
But like the actor crowned an ‘overnight success’ after 10 years of waiting tables and bit parts in soaps, the speed of social media marketing can be hugely misleading. Is it possible to create a video and have it ‘go viral’ with no extra effort? Of course. Is it likely? Not very.
For most people, businesses and brands, it takes weeks, months and even years of consistent effort to build engaged networks online. But once you’ve done the hard work, that network becomes an asset which can help spread your message extremely quickly.
So what are your options right now?
Accept it and get started: So if it’s going to take time to build your social networks then you might as well get started now — and if you’re planning a campaign or launch, the earlier the better.
A simple strategy starts with time spent listening and getting the lay of the land (who are the main bloggers in your marketplace? Where are your customers and what are they saying?).
Next, set up a base camp (usually your website or blog) where people can learn more about you and access useful content.
Finally, use your chosen social networks to start participating in relevant conversations and adding value. Then keep doing it. It takes time.
Piggyback on someone else’s profile: Social media is based on connections — and an endorsement or mention from someone with lots of relevant, high-quality connections can be enough to kick-start your own efforts.
See full article at: Social marketing takes time, but it’s well worth the wait – Watching the Web, Opinion – Belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
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