Businesses around the world have come to the
Internet to promote their products. The more traditional methods of internet
marketing include banner advertisements and keyword placements.
These follow
the model of print media, which provides brands readership and therefore
exposure. But these banners and keywords are only as good as their traditional
counterparts. They only reach their viewers in a different way.
In recent years, the Internet has gone through an
evolution spearheaded by social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter.
With the Internet being freely accessible through mobile phones and other
gadgets, it isn’t uncommon for people to get their news and updates from social
media rather than traditional media like newspapers and TV.
These advertisements comes in as word of mouth. And that
is the beauty of it all. This sort of advertisement is earned instead of being
paid and adds credibility.
Wouldn’t you listen to a friend when he talks about
how good the steak is at the new restaurant rather than to a radio
advertisement that gives the same message? And wouldn’t you be more likely to
try that same steak yourself after hearing from your friend? And not only do
you just read what your friends say about these products, you can actually see
it for yourself as they post pictures in Instagram or when they check into a
new location in Foursquare.
Internet marketing in social media is so effective
that it has enabled political campaigns. Ask Barack Obama. His 2008 campaign
differentiated itself by having a page that engages with users and also
provided the Democratic party reach that it would not have had using
traditional means.
It’s just like when you watch a good movie. The
really good ones don’t stop once the film ends. You end up talking about it
with your friends. The same goes for any outstanding product marketed over
social media. The discussions themselves showcase the product.
Internet marketing has also gone beyond just
computers. With millions of tablets and smart phones capable of going online
and more importantly getting instantaneous updates from social media, your
campaigns and promotions reach their user base right away. And they get these
updates on the go with wireless Internet being as prevalent as it is today.
So whether you are trying to increase awareness on a
new product, working on customer service by going the extra mile in reaching
out to your customers or even just collecting information on buying habits and
preferences, Internet marketing through social media has a place in every
company’s campaign. Today, not only can you get heard or talked about; you can
go viral!
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