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Next Generation approaches to persuade, engage and stand apart
Next Generation approaches to persuade, engage and stand apart
October 27, 2010
Phone and email for new business generation are still at the heart of all new business marketing programmes when reaching out to an audience; however social media is playing a growing part in these strategies.
Neilson research reveals that social networks are now more popular than email. And yourBusinessChannel highlights this well in their online video: The world has changed (for business).
Here are a few suggestions showing how you can widen your reach to be noticed, to persuade your audience, engage them and stand out from the crowd.
Join discussion groups — those your key targets are part of and active in. Get involved and offer your expertise, help solve their problems.
Follow key targets, including a sample of their targets, to get a feel for trends, issues, challenges and popular topics being discussed.
Online expert forums
Independent expert status will deliver a deeper level of trust. Get involved with forums that will be most valuable to you and share relevant content across these platforms.
Regular media monitoring
Have a close look at media in your sector, the angle taken, your targets’ positioning and the audience they are reaching out to.
Trade events
Attend all key industry events and engage with your target audience. What are your targets showcasing, how strong and professional is their positioning, collateral, understanding of their audience?
Whitepapers
You’re an expert. Share your knowledge and industry opinions.
Networking events
Attend carefully chosen conferences and seminars, consider speaking at them, particularly those that are the benchmark for your specialism.
Your website
Your website needs to be interactive to allow your audience to connect with you. Make it easy for them to reach you through an online blog where they can post comments or find you through other social media platforms and connect with you there.
Sally Danbury is an expert contributor to Marketing Donut and the founder of Cake Business Matching.
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Comments
As a direct marketer, I would certainly agree and advocate the value in the more traditional forms of outbound marketing and this is well documented. As Sally points out, digital reach is becoming more and more important and its a great leveller for smaller companies to match up to larger brands. Develop your inbound marketing network utilising the suggestions above and your digital reach will increase massively. When going for that next role or that job interview, a proven network is a modern day little black book. It could be that extra edge that helps you secure your goal. Get out there and build that authority!
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