How did you handle social media when you started out?
It was difficult. I still have challenges with that. [Social media] is an evolution. It’s more of an experiment in the beginning, but it’s a calculated experiment. You have to be aware and research what you’re getting into. POSHGLAM is a blog and social media platform, so it started as a blog for reviewing emerging brands and interacting with people in the fashion industry. Now, it’s become more of an editorial platform. I was an early adapter to blogging so what worked for me won’t work for everyone.
When utilizing social media for marketing and interaction, it can serve as a great tool for monitoring consumer conversations and determining the needs of your customers as well as solving problems. If you use social media, you should see it as an extension of marketing efforts, and a way to further your messages in a more personable way. Social media is a great way to directly communicate with your customers and should be utilized to build great relationships with your market and enhance brand loyalty and client retention.
What advice do you have for people who haven’t done so well in developing their brand online yet?
It’s never too late to get involved with social media and online marketing, it’s an ongoing process; it’s like building a house. You start with the foundation, which is what your brand represents, and then you build upon the “foundation” with a mix of brand driven messages and conversations with your customers or clients. The goal is to use social media as a connection tool to reinforce your brand and strategically build upon your already existing marketing initiatives.
My advice would be to assess the market and see which social media networks or platforms appeal most to your target audience. It’s important to gauge your way in and measure the adequacy of your online marketing initiatives along the way through analytics and metrics, that way if something you are doing isn’t working, it can be tweaked accordingly. Social networks are only as valuable to marketers as the communities that exist within them. It’s important to evaluate each network to determine if it’s the best fit for your business or brand.
–BE Digital Lounge sponsored by AT&T
