Social Media

Social Media  

Now here is a subject, Social Media that people just want more data.  We hear it all around us, I read it on facebook, I saw it on Pinterest, I watched it on YouTube and it was because my friend recommended it or liked it.  Even if you are not embracing the digital universe, most of the rest of us have to some extent and the time spent on it is growing. 

For a business that truly understands that its market is our planet, Earth, and if all factors are measured by the consumer and your business offers greater value or meets their primary consideration then the consumer will beat a path to your door.  This is how I see digital marketing, however, it does require 24/7 attention.  The world never sleeps and the needs of our families must be answered in a timely manner.  A negative remarked that goes unanswered can destroy much hard work.    

 

This next workshop was conducted by Ryan Thogmartin the founder of DISRUPT Media Group LLC and ConnectingDirectors.com (an online publication for funeral professionals with 15,000+ readers).  Ryan was quick, engaging, and purposely himself in manner and dress, which I think drove home the message to the Funeral Director crowd in attendance that they are throwing time and money away when they do not understand social media.

 

TAKE AWAY:

• Your customers are evolving faster than the Funeral Industry - you must adapt or die!
• Social Media must have a strategic purpose that can be measured against goals and objectives
• 7 approaches to social media strategy

1. Build Community Relationships, show the engagement of one another

2. Brand Awareness

3. PR - more importantly Good Q & A, educational, source of reference

4. Customer Service - ask your customer how they want to communicate, you maybe surprised when they say text, email, then phone.

5. Research & Development - great way to Test Ideas, Coupons

6. New Inquiries equal new friends

7. Brand Reputation

• By reviewing social media you can find out where your friends enjoy going and doing, this could be key information in your marketing plans.
• What about the Boomers are they engaged? -Yes 53% currently and growing. and if they are not engaged in Social Media their children and grandchild are and many times that is the person who will look you up on-line first.  Largest Facebook crowd is females 45 to 65.
• Invite leaders in your community to like you on FB
• Encourage your volunteers to repost your articles, pictures and to share on FB
• Post obituaries on-line
• Post pictures from events at your business or elsewhere
• 80% of new customers come from recommendations from others
• Twitter.com and Tweet allows for web links and short info posts.
• FourSquare has brand followers
• YouTube is a must have - snippets that drive people to your web site for more.  --meaningful events edited and presented -educational videos --company events
• Facebook is great for building your loyalty base

So now what you think about social media?