Social Marketing:
Creating Real Relationships in a Virtual World

Social marketing is simply defined as the act of marketing by establishing connections on the Internet. It is considered to be the online form of word-of-mouth advertising.

The goal of social marketing is simple...to share information. The more people you meet and the more information you offer, the more traffic is drawn to your website or your storefront. That traffic generation will ultimately net more sales over time.

Free sites such as MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn allow you to make friends, grow a fan-base or connect with like-minded individuals. While those are the most popular forms of social marketing, there are other options, such as blogs or online forums.

Here are some eye-opening statistics:

• More than twice as many people go online to socialize (82%) than to do business (39%) or shop (31%).
• 72% of people go online just to interact as part of a community or network.
• 63% of people go online to influence others' opinions, or express contrasting or oppositional views.

The popularity of conducting business over the internet is unquestionable. But be prepared, social marketing takes time and effort. It's an ongoing investment that will require your constant involvement and interaction. In this day and age, social marketing is one of the most critical components to make your business a monetary success. It must be noted that social marketing, however, does not produce immediate results. It is designed to build relationships with your clients. You should not aim to sell your product, but to get to know your customers and gain their trust. You first build a relationship, thus building a sold reputation for your business...and you do it using the most cost-effective tools available. This is particularly important during the recession when traditional advertising and marketing budgets are tight, or none-existent.

In addition to increased traffic generation to your website, take advantage of how social marketing can impact your search engine rankings. Social marketing not only promotes your products or services, but it also puts you on top of every search engine's list, as long as you actively have a regular flow of traffic coming into your website through the information you share and the links you create.

Conclusion
A small business can get a wonderful boost by using social marketing, as long as important and relevant information is provided as part of the overall plan. Most every social marketing site allows for localized networking, which brings greater targeting to customers in a particular geographical region. Simply stated, social marketing is simple, inexpensive and a positive, simple way to gain popularity and increase sales for your small business.

Join in!
If you haven't already joined Facebook or LinkedIn, I encourage you to do so! It can be a fun way to reconnect with old friends and connect with new prospects. If fear is hindering you, rest assured the sign-up process is easy and streamlined. If you think you're too old to join, think again! Currently, there are more users ages 35-54 than any other demographic...and there has been a staggering increase in the number of 55+ users - with growth of 513% in in the last six month alone. So, what are you waiting for?