Social Media Marketing Trends for 2009
posted by Jeanannv on December 29th, 2008Seems like 2008 flew by…the economic crisis in our country forcing some social media ventures to close up shop, while others enjoyed astronomical growth. Now, more than ever, consumers are shopping, socializing, living online…which has, somewhat ironically, led to an increase in expected intimacy between customers and brands. And though there are many ways that social media marketing can be used in branding, there are three somewhat underused ways that I think will see larger adoption in 2009.
- Market research: This year, we saw what can happen when a big brand doesn’t follow through with market
research and testing prior to releasing marketing materials (ie, the Motrin Moms debacle). Social media platforms make research ridiculously easy…businesses don’t have to “go” anywhere to find a focus group. Your customer base is already congregated on the web, the key is identifying the niche communities where they live. In this “Age of Engage”, people want to be a part of product development and feedback…it is easier than ever to ensure you have a customer base before you offer a product or service. - Customer service: The obvious example of social media customer service is the site Get Satisfaction. This site is a clearing house for nearly 10,000 companies responding in short order to a variety of questions, the results of which are posted for all of us to see. This site lives the social media creed of transparency, immediacy and integrity. And, whether or not you use this service or one like it, those three characteristics are must have’s in Web 2.0 customer service interactions.
- Customized social media platforms: As we become more familiar with what social media offers, and what it doesn’t, we will see companies with customized platforms, tailored to fit the needs of their customers. Ning is a great mainstream example, one that is used by quite a few small businesses. Developers can chose from forums, blogs, groups, chat, and can connect with outside platforms for greater flexibility (see Twitter Moms). This type of customization allows for maximizing marketing strategy. When mainstream marketers become more familiar with social media tools, the combination of customization and highly targeted messaging will be unparalleled in its effectiveness.
There are other ways in which social media marketing will change in 2009, some of which we can’t predict. And for the small business owner, these can seem overwhelming. The key is to get moving…as you try new marketing methods and social media platforms, you will discover what works best for your business. Don’t let your lack of knowledge or fear of the unknown keep you from your potential.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
It seems extremely difficult for the small town newspaper I write for to utilize social media on the Web. The editor claims their Web presence doesn’t bring in one penny of revenue. How can social media networking play a positive role in this area? Perhaps it is a different type of product that will require a retooling.
December 30th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
A really unfortunate fact is that many newspapers are seeing severe drops in circulation as many readers have turned to electronic versions for more information. Found a great resource, though it may be too much info…try http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2008/12/your-guide-to-alternative-business-models-for-newspapers353.html and see if that doesn’t help with resources. I will also make a note to post about it in the near future…thanks for the feedback!
December 30th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
[...] VanKrevelen recently listed her 2009 predictions for social media, and I agree that the ones she has highlighted make [...]
December 31st, 2008 at 5:34 am
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onSocial Media Marketing Trends for 2009Here’s a quick excerptThis type of customization allows for maximizing marketing strategy. When mainstream marketers become more familiar with social media tools, the combination of customization and highly targeted messaging will be unparalleled in its … [...]
December 31st, 2008 at 5:31 pm
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onSocial Media Marketing Trends for 2009Here’s a quick excerptIn this “Age of Engage”, people want to be a part of product development and feedback…it is easier than ever to ensure you have a customer base before you offer a product or service. Customer service: The obvious example of social media … [...]
January 8th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
To respond to TC’s question … in a small town everyone knows everything and wants to be a part of everything. So let the people be part of your newspaper. Let them submit photos to big events or videotape events and post them on your Web site. Ask the readers what they’d like to see. People will become engaged and then you have the two-way conversation that social media is famous for.