Strategy: Purpose-driven Social Media Adds Snap to Marketing Tactics

Creative coach and author Cynthia Morris and I discussed social media strategies this morning. Seems that we’re both on LinkedIn and Facebook (Mary Ellen LinkedIn; Cynthia LinkedIn) and neither of us has made the leap to connect these two social media to our other marketing tactics.

It occurs to me many people have the same problem; they set up a profile and then ask, “Now what?” Before you pop the question, “How do you make everything you do work together?” take a moment to think about your overall goal: “Why add social media to your marketing?”

Cynthia and I determined adding social media could help our Internet presence work harder for us, tying together blogs, newsletters, articles, and more. As I asked the “how” question on our Skype call (Cynthia is in Lisbon and I’m in Albuquerque) each of us forced the other to be specific. We came up with a list of seven “to do” items, each foundational in nature, requiring our attention:

1. Get our profiles updated; NOTE: LinkedIn has a different personality from Facebook so profiles must differ accordingly: that means reviewing pictures for appropriateness and then updating information including work history
2. Recommend each other
3. Make our project list public in the working on section
4. Use the system to make announcements about upcoming speaking engagements or workshops
5. If appropriate, write notes of value on Facebook wall
6. Consider joining or connecting with a meaningful and appropriate group; Cynthia mentioned Informed Ideas for Writers on LinkedIn
7. Give recommendations to others with whom we’ve interacted

What’s even more important, we made a commitment to get these basics done and then produce our social media marketing plan on/before next Monday.

Simple? Yes, these are basic tactics. Social media buffs may be way ahead of the two of us. The important thing to note: we’re in action mode. Check back in a week to see if there’s a difference. And let us know what you’re doing to implement social media into your marketing tactics.

What social media actions are you taking? How is social media making a difference for you?