Almost without exception the companies that have really made it on the internet have all given away something or REAL VALUE for nada, babkas nothing. Think about Skype offering long distance calls or YouTube, the possibility of a video going viral for free. Wikipeadia did the same by offering free information and for involving their community in its creation.

So, all that said, what can you do, what can you give away, to leverage the Internet to spread word of your product or service online? The most important advice, which may seem at first to be counterintuitive, is to AVOID “SELLING” in your interactions.

Focus instead on building Trust, Relationships and Credibility (although never hesitate to tell people what you actually do when the time is right). This ESTABLISHMENT of CREDIBILITY is the key to selling any product you may have. If you have provided compelling "value" – people will be more inclined to believe in YOU. In Social Media Marketing, customers buy "YOU", before buying your product. This means you have to get people interested in "YOU" before they are interested in your product/business. It is critical, ONCE YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED CREDIBILITY you will have them eating out of your hands.

Google did it like this. From its inception and right through the Dot.Com demise, while other companies were clutching at straws and trying everything in and outside the rule book to suvive, Google stood firm with their Puritan approach. They continued to focus of fast, "relevant" search. The Google landing page was plain with zero advertising for quick loading. They refused banner ads in favour of text. They put CUSTOMER needs before theirs! This is the key to Social Media Marketing Success. 

There are only 3 Rules to Social Media Marketing Success:

Provide Value
Provide value
Provide value

In serving your customer audience while setting yourself up in the best possible way to get a measurable result to your Social Media Marketing strategy (ROI), the most important thing is to KEEP EVERYTHING FRESH! Always ensure that the content your team of branders is generating is constantly updated. Without this your market will get bored and move on – this is key to keeping your site ‘sticky’ and enticing. You need to have people glued to your blog/website/post commenting and adding value to YOUR value, so that they draw others in and ultimately so that they slip happily into your sales funnel.

Don’t pitch yourself to every and anyone, rather identify a group of users who love what you offer. For instance, if your product is photographic adjustment software tool, your most happy users might be independent graphic designers. It is suggested to define your TARGET Market as being 1 inch wide and a mile deep.Find out where this type of user congregates online and join in where possible and appropriate. There are numerous sites that provide resources, articles and forums for customers in just about any industry you could imagine..

Engage these sites and communities in a meaningful manner, alway adding value. Add insight by providing meaningful content in areas that people want to be informed. Resist the urge to pitch your service, but rather focus on becoming a valued part of the community (be sure, however, to always include an online “signature” in your posts that explains who you are and what you do).

And of course always measure the effectivenss (in terms of Quality and Quantity) of your Social Media Marketing. You cant manage what you cant measure. Make measurement an integral responsibility to ensure the effectiness of your social Media Marketing efforts.

A critical factor when trying to get individuals into your sales funnel is to always make sure you first get feedback from your target market – again ask your market what they want, how would they like to see the product improved. If you choose to do this conscientiously, you will achieve the awareness of your product that others want you to have and this always increases our chances of selling what we want to sell. This feedback loop is indispensable, free and easy to attain using social media.

Not all your techniques of sliding people into your sales funnel have to be novel and creative. Social Media Marketing is also about honouring old methods in this new environment. We dont have enough time to make all the mistakes ourselves by being new and innovative, sometimes we need to lean on proven tactics and apply them to this new domain.

Finally, you can safely ignore those still entertaining the discussion of whether Social Media marketing is a Scam or not. There is sifficient clear and compelling evidence to the contrary. Avoid an involvement with those hankering after the past, unless its a history you're focussing on.

I thank you for adding your comments and insights below ..Siyaya - meaning forward together in ZULU, And of course …Have fun with all Social Media!!!

Warm Regards and I hope to connect with you soon on Facebook. www.facebook.com/stevebuchalter

SteveBuchalter
Skype:stebucstephen