So I’ve really been trying to wrap my head around this whole social media craze. I understand and agree that it’s the wave of the future, but I still struggling with finding my fit in the big picture.
On a personal level, it’s been great catching up with long, lost friends from 100 years ago. That’s working for me. Exchanging casual small-talk with friends is fun and great to know what everyone’s doing, even though their Facebook posts seem much more exciting than anything I could think to share. You see, my kids are grown and gone…no soccer scores to share, no academic successes to report, just mundane day to day stuff. Well, my daughter is getting married and we’re planning a big “to-do”, but I’m not compelled to share all those details with the general public. My close friends know what’s going on because we’re plugged into each others lives on a more personal level. They’re not reading about it on Facebook, I’m sharing the news with them, well, in person or over the phone.
Now, on a more professional level, I’ve spent much time analyzing the efficacy of promoting a non-profit business through social media and have found it has much more substance, at least for my needs. There are so many ways to connect with followers and fans on so many levels that it’s created the need for a whole new marketing strategy. The traditional pay, print and distribute method will continue for some time, however digital advertising will eventually shut the presses down and shift the focus to electronic delivery. Until this new delivery system is firmly in place, we need to embrace social media as the most current electronic method of delivery and take full advantage of it’s strength. For now, it is the most viral means of connecting to our constituents that exists and we’d be remiss in turning our back on it’s effectiveness.
As you begin evaluating your social marketing plan and how best to implement, remember, everything in moderation. If everything you put in front of your constituents is promotional in nature, it can potentially become a turn-off and counterproductive. Do you have a marketing plan in place for social media? How are you balancing the business end with a personal touch? Share your thoughts.
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