The merger of social media and traditional marketing

As a marketer I am constantly studying, researching, testing and exploring the most efficient methods of engaging and motivating a new prospect.  The terrain is changing so quickly that it is extremely challenging to keep up.  Depending on the audience that you are trying to reach, will depend on how best to  design a strategy to make the cash register ring, while increasing the likelihood of these new customers to share your message and be an advocate of your product or service.

In order for an advertised product or service to go from zero to hero, many things must occur. Firstly, it sure helps that it is not under a rock and known about. This takes either public relations articles, radio,print or tv ads, along with other ancillary methods such as billboards or in banner videos on the web.  This is what I call forced awareness. With enough frequency and an emotional message, a product arrives on the shelf and becomes part of the thousands of other items for sale.
Unless an advertiser is prepared to stick with a strategy and insure they are not haphazardly throwing money around, traditional advertising may not be enough to get you where you want to be.

This is where the merger of traditional campaigns combined with  a social media style marketing can be beneficial. Why? When one peer contacts another with either a Recommendation or information, the power of trust engages. When a friend provides a reference of an item that was favorable, their inner circle is most likely going to give it a try. Once advertisers figure out how to drive consumers Through  this wave, social marketing will ignite. It amazes me how many major fortune 500 companies embarrass themselves using social media. It really isn't brain surgery, but lots of common sense and creativity. www.dontolep.com