I’ve been working on some projects this week that reminded me how we often dismiss the tried and tested in the face of the new and shiny.
One, for example, involves a book that will be printed and published in traditional fashion as well as coming out as a digital publication. It will also have a publicity and marketing campaign devised in the good, old-fashioned manner of having meetings and using established contacts.
In the rush to digital and the need for speed (or so we are always told), we can often forget how the ‘old-fashioned’ methods work as well, if not better, especially when used in tandem with all those latest techniques.
With that in mind, I’m sharing with you some of those complementary/hybrid techniques and resources this week so you can use them to boost yourself and your business.
First up is this great podcast on generating word of mouth buzz…one of the oldest methods out there and still one of the best for all spheres of marketing. And now, with social media, it’s easier than ever to get that buzz going:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/word-of-mouth-with-ted-wright/
Word of mouth marketing is so powerful it even has its own trade association, WOMMA.
They have an excellent resource section which even non-members can access and you will find a wealth of freebies here to download, including a report on Instagram Power: Build Your Brand and Reach More Customers with the Power of Pictures and the invaluable Influencer Guidebook:
http://members.womma.org/p/cm/ld/fid=99
Let’s now look at another key strategy I mentioned earlier which is using established contacts. Your contacts and connections can literally make or break your business but what if you don’t have any? This will teach you how to connect with those influencers in your arena who can sprinkle some of their fairy dust of success on you:
http://www.curata.com/blog/influencer-marketing-10-tips-to-boost-content-roi/
One of the best places to make and build connections is to do so on LinkedIn – don’t underestimate the power of the platform to make more sales and find those crucial contacts. Here’s a useful tutorial on how to master LinkedIn:
You can also download a nice tip sheet here on networking on LinkedIn – it’s designed for students but the tips apply to anyone looking to get more useful connections:
If you’re not sure how to word those all-important LinkedIn requests or how to respond to them, this should help:
http://www.lamarketing.net/how-to-grow-your-connections-on-linkedin-and-build-your-database/
And for some tips from a salesperson who uses LinkedIn all the time to get more prospects and leads, go here:
Think you can’t use LinkedIn for ecommerce and/or to promote physical goods? Think again:
http://www.shopify.co.uk/blog/4696032-6-linkedin-ecommerce-marketing-tips
Here are the top ecommerce groups on LinkedIn you can join to grow your business and get lots of tips:
http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/3712-Top-10-LinkedIn-Groups-for-Ecommerce-Businesses
Finally, your TED talk this week features Nicholas Christakis on the Hidden Influence of Social Networks – this will make you think…
