Working in the SEO and marketing industry has exposed me to all sorts of social media, and today I incorporate Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Myspace into my daily routine. As a result, I come across plenty of news articles, blog posts, pod casts and various other social media flotsam throughout the day. Today I found a blog post from Fred Wilson, a venture capitalist who works with companies that are addressing new marketing platforms.
In his blog, Fred talks about the social media platform and his remarkable experience with @kogibbq on Twitter. Briefly, Kogi BBQ is two taco trucks that drive around Los Angeles and tweet their location throughout the day. They have become remarkably success, and have attracted a large following on Twitter as well as throughout LA. Wilson says this type of media exposure is of the “earned” variety, a phrase he picked up from Jerry Solomon – the executive producer of Epoch media and Wilson’s brother in law.
Solomon compares the brand/consumer relationship to that of a man and a mistress. After a while, the jewelry and other gifts grow old, and the mistress begins to want more. The same is true with a brand/consumer relationship Solomon says. Brands should focus on dialogue with the consumer instead of engaging in mere monologue.
This all felt remarkably familiar to me. The goal of search engine optimization is to draw attention to a particular business or website. We do that in a variety of ways, but blogging is one particular approach we use. This creates a platform for feedback from consumers, both potential and current. The conversation can move from just the monologue to a true dialogue. I use Twitter and Facebook daily, and it opens the door for feedback from the public and the consumer.
Aside from large companies with very deep pockets, the days of effective TV advertising are gone. Kogi BBQ can’t afford a spot during the Superbowl, but they don’t need to. They are able to use tools like Twitter to build a following and grow their business.
Fred Wilson said the big challenge for marketers and advertisers now is to engage consumers without alienating them with perceived spam. Despite the popularity of Google’s Adwords program, how often do you click on a “sponsored link”? I know I never do, because I know it’s a marketing link. And an unwelcome one at that. I prefer to digest my internet material organically
A very effective way for businesses to reach their intended audience is through tools like blogs, Twitter and by using techniques like search engine optimization. This way you’re ensuring that your audience sees the message, but it doesn’t feel like they’re being advertised at. Perception is reality. If you’d like to learn more about what SEO can do for you, visit our site or find me on Twitter (@realusaseopros). I would love to start a dialogue with you!