Uh Oh! Platforms, wires, people huddled together trying to get those extra few bars of battery life at the airport. This truly is the digital connection economy. Hopping on an airplane witnessing passenger reactions when flight attendants tell them no monitors are available to view shows. Their only option is to download the app and view on their laptop, iPad or smart phone device is sobering to say the least. For the “millennial” this is just normal life, but as a fellow entrepreneur and marketer, I wonder how they feel or how I would feel if I was in their position. Needless to say, this is our new reality, so let’s make the most of it.
When talking sales or execution of a marketing strategy, the funnel is always brought up. What people tend to forget is the way someone comes into the funnel has completely changed. They are entering the funnel wayyyyyy before they meet you, they are entering digitally on their own terms, in their own time. This is HUGE! Does social media sell and what the hell is the ROI? Well, those are great questions, but it is accurate to say that social media, search and display are the beginning stages of the trust cycle, so if you want to say hello to your customer, I suggest you get social and start building trust. By doing this, I do not mean come outta the gate swinging and asking them to buy your sh*t, but rather to establish some value and authority in your chosen space.
Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube are known as social media networks, but make no mistake, they are platforms where people spend a ridiculous amount of time and breath on. We call these platforms, and there are three main stages to platforms: traction, maintaining and expansion. Out of these three, traction is the hardest. Think about trying to lose weight, hardest part is literally getting started. This is part of human nature, if we do not see immediate results or get the desired reactions from our pees, we often dismiss our initial reasons for starting out on the venture. Traction is social media or plat forming is no different as it takes time, dedication and constant thumb exercise. Hah did you get that joke? Are you thumbs hurting? I know mine are!
When tackling you’re your social media strategy for your real estate company or automotive dealership, think of it as a going on a date for the first time. The initial first 5 minutes of the interaction will often likely determine the outcome of what that encounter will look like as it goes on. Ask yourself how you can provide value and gain trust with your customer when making posts or curating your content. Remember, this is not a game, it is all about interacting with people! People are not dumb, they know when someone is trying to sell them, stop it! Seth Godin say’s it best, we are in a permission economy!
Get out there and build some trust!
Come say hi to me.
