Social Media Optimization in Maryland
Maryland Internet Marketing’s Social Media Optimization or SMO encompasses blogs, link building, ratings, community forums, vlogs, podcasts and social bookmarks, which increase visibility to a Web site in a means similar to word-of-mouth marketing.
It is well documented that about ¼ of all online sales are achieved through a word of mouth referral. Once consumers find a good Web site to purchase from it is shown that they will continue to visit and purchase from the site. Social media is useful for consumers to recommend and share online shopping experiences. The networks created by social sites allow them to be used to promote products, services and specials quickly.
Social media is also useful in B2B instances, particularly for lead generation. In a 2007 report by Forrester, researcher Laura Ramos found that, as of the end of 2006, nearly 40% of B2B marketers surveyed used blogs, social networks, or user-generated content in their efforts. The intimate platform of social Web sites allows B2B companies to know exactly who their customers and prospective customers are. These companies can use social media to one-on-one conversations with customers and prospects.
A corporate blog makes a lot of sense to engage these customers and prospects. A corporate video on YouTube can be shared easily. A facebook site where prospective customers can find peer support, learning, and provide feedback to vendors is another way of providing customer care. Social networks can be used to recruit workers and prospects with a little ingenuity. Widgets are available to promote certain specials on others sites. The Internet tools are there for companies to use.
