Marketing and Social Media

In the world today, marketing must expand from the traditional newspaper, television, and radio marketing strategies to the realm of social media.  Companies and individuals alike can market their products, talents, and services with social media in a way that creates and molds their branding.

With the quantity of users/consumers/customers on social media today, it only makes sense for companies to seek new customers through this lightning-quick method. Companies must take advantage of the ability to inexpensively market their brand, promote new products, and gain new customers. While social media can enhance the reach of the organization, increase interest by new customers, and build brand loyalty, it must be done in a format that aligns with the company's target customers. For example, marketing for a childcare center would be much different than marketing targeted to those wishing to get married.  Careful thought must be taken to ensure that the marketing strategy is effective for the type of business.

It is also important to be able to market oneself in social media.  Often, potential employers do Google searches or check Facebook pages of prospective employees.  You want to ensure that your pages and searches turn up favorable information that will well represent you to potential clients and/or employers.  For example, it would not be wise to post numerous photos of yourself engaged in illicit activities.  Potential employers have found that it is easy to see the type of employee you might be by the type of postings you have.  Employers can also find out many things about you that are "protected categories" that they may not ask about in interviews, such as if you are pregnant, your religion, any disabilities, and your marital status.  These types of information could potentially damage your chances of getting a job- especially if you are posting about things that employers would not find desirable in employees.  The person you present to the social media world is also the person you present to potential (and current) employers, so you need to be careful of the persona you project.  Building your "brand", or who you are, is as easy as what you post.  Being cognizant of the information you have out in cyberspace will allow you to direct and control the information that will become your brand.