Make Your Own Fame
Self-promotion may not come easily to all our Denver-based clients, but in today’s competitive online marketing environment it’s essential.
To those of us who have been involved with inbound Internet marketing for awhile now, it seems obvious that a great product and a lot of expertise aren’t enough anymore. But many businesses still think that if they build it, their customers will come.
The truth is, if you don’t market yourself on the web, if you wait for your customers to find you—most likely, they won’t, or very few will, anyway.
4 Tips to Making Your Own Fame
Raising your profile with online consumers is key, and social media can make it happen. It takes time, it takes consistency and it takes a plan. But, if you’re willing to put a little time into it you will big reap rewards for your Denver business. Do you have 30 minutes a day to spare? Are you ready to make your own fame? Yes? Read on!
1. Start blogging. The blog has become a critical part of any company’s online marketing strategy. Why? Starting a company blog gives you the opportunity to share information with readers, but more than that, it demonstrates expertise and invites engagement—two elements of any successful online marketing campaign.
Fresh, optimized blog content makes you easier to find—both with people and search engines. So add your keywords to your posts and post regularly. Contribute to your blog two or three times a week, post links to it on social media and open it up to comments. You get free feedback, your readers get useful information, and they share it with others. It’s the kind of word-of-mouth advertising that companies can’t get enough of.
2. Start networking. Social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus were designed for information sharing. And, both people and search engines pay attention to the content posted there. Develop these groups and then invite conversation. Post interesting links, comments and questions. Get your fans and followers talking about you and your industry. They’ll soon start seeing your business as an authority and spread the word to others.
Not all of these sites will work for you. For instance, if you are a “business-to-business” company, you will find that LinkedIn is probably better at developing your groups than Facebook. The opposite is also true if you are primarily a “Business-to-consumer” company. Facebook will likely be more effective. Find the ones that make sense for your niche, keep up with them, and you’ll enhance your online visibility in a big way.
3. Start sharing. Search results are now linked to how much your content is passed around. So, make it easier for people to find and share. Post to social bookmarking sites that reach big audiences, such as Digg, Technorati or Delicious. Link your social sites together to increase exposure for your posts. Answer questions through your blog and link to them in your Twitter and Facebook accounts.
To maximize your online presence, think about ways to turn internal content into shareable marketing material. Compile meeting notes and turn them into a white paper. Combine blogs into an ebook or the script for a video. There are many possibilities when it comes to repurposing content.
4. Start using the technology. Today’s savvy Internet marketers know how to maximize productivity using technology. Don’t be intimidated—you don’t have to be a tech wizard to take advantage of the tools. Use your smartphone to post a tweet or update your status on social media. Participate in podcasts and webinars. Join a Google Plus Circle or “like” another person’s Facebook post.
Making your own fame in today’s brave new Internet marketing world means getting out there and spreading the word!
Use social media to share and network. Take advantage of the tools available to you. It’s the smart way to promote your Denver business in the digital age.
Aside from the 4 tips we’ve listed above, there are many other important ideas on growing your social media success. What are your thoughts or tips? Please let us know below!
