Social marketing is one of the many methods that people use to really establish their business. So what is it? Social marketing is simply a fancy name for getting outside of your ecommerce website and establishing relationships in an effort to gain business. So for example, if you own a website that sells soccer jerseys, you maybe visit and interact with people who might be interested in those products. Spend time on coaching forums, find other coaches in the area and speak with them, interact and gain their trust is the key here.



This may sound like a lot of work for very little reward. However, I want to tell you a success story before you toss this to the wayside and forget about it. I am a big fan of scuba diving and when I first got into it I was really talking a lot about it on forums and things. I was looking for equipment, I was reading reviews, I was interacting with other scuba divers. I noticed there was one person lurking around always answering questions, was extremely helpful, and also sold equipment at fair pricing. I ended up driving down to his store just to buy from him. While I am only one person, there were hundreds of people buying from him based on his interaction and good service that he was offering through the scuba diving forum. It ended up about a year later I saw him on CNN money.com where he was stated as having one of the top 25 fastest growing web businesses. His small little company quickly became one of the top scuba diving shops nationwide. His business is bringing in several million dollars per year right now. It all started with word of mouth an interaction of others who would be interested in his product.



While you may not be as successful as he is with social marketing, you will definitely see other benefits to it as well. Most people want to buy from companies who have a personal feel to them, but also from those who know what they are talking about. If you have a good understanding of the products you are selling, then you are very likely to establish yourself as a leader in the industry. When people think of you as such, they will be more inclined to listen to you, and buy from you.



If you are still unsure of exactly where to go to get started, then you should not worry too much. I mentioned the power of social marketing through forums above, but forums are not the only platform that you can use. As far as the internet goes, Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace are equally as good platforms. The key here is to go where the people are that might be interested in what you are selling. You do not want to jump in there and just start advertising. Introduce yourself, maybe throw in a link to your website every now and then if you think people are interested in what you are saying, but interaction is more important than the actual link. Eventually, people will come to you rather than you going to them. This is simply an act of making the first step to becoming more visible and establishing friends within a community that can refer you other customers.



The time in which it takes to see results from social marketing can vary. The scuba community is actually rather small in comparison to some other markets. So presenting yourself as a friend but also a leader within the community can take time. For some it happens quickly, others it is a much slower process. Always keep in mind here that you are interacting with potential customers and always act professionally. This will be beneficial in how others perceive you. A little leg work can go a long way.



Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant

Corporate Social Responsibility

Posted by o3n1x3r | 12:55 AM | , | 0 comments »

Corporate social responsibility (CSR, also called corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, responsible business and corporate social opportunity) is a concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities and other stakeholders, as well as the environment. This obligation is seen to extend beyond the statutory obligation to comply with legislation and sees organizations voluntarily taking further steps to improve the quality of life for employees and their families as well as for the local community and society at large.

The practice of CSR is subject to much debate and criticism. Proponents argue that there is a strong business case for CSR, in that corporations benefit in multiple ways by operating with a perspective broader and longer than their own immediate, short-term profits. Critics argue that CSR distracts from the fundamental economic role of businesses; others argue that it is nothing more than superficial window-dressing; still others argue that it is an attempt to preempt the role of governments as a watchdog over powerful multinational corporations.

source : wikipedia.org

While the forms of marketing are almost as varied as the products themselves,there is evidence that there are some universal rules that are applicable to successful marketing in the retail and some service industries. Studies have found that some of the characteristics affecting consumer behavior that marketers must take into account,due to the influence on consumer purchases are product, pricing, positioning, and placement. What is known in marketing circles as the four p's.

Product is the goods or service you create or obtain to sell to consumers that you can make a profit suppling to consumers.In order to grow or maintain continued profit,this product must be able to attract new customers.

Pricing is the actual fee you intend to charge for the product or service to your target consumer group for profit. When setting prices,always remember that profits are always affected by any discounts and or allowances you may coose to offer in the future,and be sure that you are setting profits within the legal limits of the law. Many great business plans have failed simply because no one took the time to consider the legal side of planning.

Positioning is positioning the product in your target consumer groups minds. A right positioning strategy has to be in place as a foundation,along with a product that follows through on a promise. A positioning strategy is always aimed at your target group.Some positioning options are as follows,you may position against a competitor,by claiming lower prices,or you may emphasize a distinctive benefit such as"twenty years in the same location". You may also affiliate yourself with somthing the customer values such as,"the only one recognized by the american business agency" or the like.

Placement is the advertising factor of a business ask yourself "how will you advertise"? Will it be television, print ads, or the internet? Most advertising media can be used to the advantage of a business, so remember to consider which would be the most cost effective to you.

It is important to keep in mind the four P's when planning your campaigns in the competitive world of marketing.

Source : echeat.com