SMM combines the goals of internet marketing with social networking sites like Digg, Flickr, MySpace, YouTube and many others. SMM's goals will be different for each company or organization, however most will involve some form of viral marketing to building an idea or brand awareness, increasing visibility and possibly selling a product or service. SMM may also include online reputation management. Most online communities do not accept traditional direct or hard selling techniques, for what an effective SMM campaign will require more finesse to run properly must be targeted to the community you want to reach with a message that appeals to them. Some common ways to do this are with authoritative information, entertainment, humor or controversy. "
- Wikipedia 2007
Social media marketing can be considered an indirect method of marketing your business. It is a powerful process that uses the principles of traditional marketing for social purpose programs that ultimately promote your business through social media channels. Social media marketing is the new wave of online marketing and could be considered an indirect method of marketing. Traditional marketing focuses on immediate sales and goes straight to the point. This is who we are, this is what we do, that is why you should buy our product or service, buy it now. The length of traditional sales cycles varies within industries, but the goal is always the same: close that social media marketing.
Social media marketing has the same goal, but the means to the end is very different. It is generally frowned upon trying to sell your product or service on industry forum sites, for example. Those forums are in place for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and networks. Most forums have a separate advertising section where companies can pay for advertising. The idea behind participating in forums is to establish yourself as your industry expert. Sharing your knowledge and learning from those in the same industry or in your target market results in an exposure for you and your business.
By providing helpful information, making constructive comments, and asking the right questions, you will deliver value to potential customers, and eventually they will come looking for more value. Naturally, your final value is in the product or service you are trying to sell. The inherent problem with social media marketing is that it takes a lot of time and effort to achieve the desired end result, which is the sale. Many business owners do not have the time to pursue something that does not provide the immediate desired results (delayed gratification theory) or are reluctant to use the powerful social media marketing options available specifically because of their indirect approach to sales and the time it takes to see the results.
Marketing on social networks is not really different from social networks off the Internet. When you attend a trade fair or a company event, you are establishing contacts in a social environment with the desired result of increasing your customer base. Companies that sponsor golf outings, company picnics, and other social events often invite employees, customers, and prospects. What are these three groups of people doing at these events? They socialize and network. Although some may develop friendships at such events, the main reason and ultimate goal of such events is to increase the bottom line, that is, the company's profits.
- Wikipedia 2007
Social media marketing can be considered an indirect method of marketing your business. It is a powerful process that uses the principles of traditional marketing for social purpose programs that ultimately promote your business through social media channels. Social media marketing is the new wave of online marketing and could be considered an indirect method of marketing. Traditional marketing focuses on immediate sales and goes straight to the point. This is who we are, this is what we do, that is why you should buy our product or service, buy it now. The length of traditional sales cycles varies within industries, but the goal is always the same: close that social media marketing.
Social media marketing has the same goal, but the means to the end is very different. It is generally frowned upon trying to sell your product or service on industry forum sites, for example. Those forums are in place for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and networks. Most forums have a separate advertising section where companies can pay for advertising. The idea behind participating in forums is to establish yourself as your industry expert. Sharing your knowledge and learning from those in the same industry or in your target market results in an exposure for you and your business.
By providing helpful information, making constructive comments, and asking the right questions, you will deliver value to potential customers, and eventually they will come looking for more value. Naturally, your final value is in the product or service you are trying to sell. The inherent problem with social media marketing is that it takes a lot of time and effort to achieve the desired end result, which is the sale. Many business owners do not have the time to pursue something that does not provide the immediate desired results (delayed gratification theory) or are reluctant to use the powerful social media marketing options available specifically because of their indirect approach to sales and the time it takes to see the results.
Marketing on social networks is not really different from social networks off the Internet. When you attend a trade fair or a company event, you are establishing contacts in a social environment with the desired result of increasing your customer base. Companies that sponsor golf outings, company picnics, and other social events often invite employees, customers, and prospects. What are these three groups of people doing at these events? They socialize and network. Although some may develop friendships at such events, the main reason and ultimate goal of such events is to increase the bottom line, that is, the company's profits.

















