Social Media as ORM Weapons

Social media has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. What used to be ponds of online user groups is now a veritable ocean thanks to websites such as Facebook and Twitter. Aside from the increased connectivity between people, social media sites give businesses more opportunities to market their products or services. On the other side of the coin, social media also has positive or negative information flowing around, so how do you use the system to your advantage?

First, you have to identify which social media platforms work the best for your business. The target market will be essential in the selection. If your business is, say an automotive company, look for the appropriate user communities on Facebook. Establish your official accounts on selected platforms; your marketing specialist can recommend Twitter and Facebook among others. All accounts should be linked to your main website and related content.

It is important to sift out all the good and bad reviews coming in. A few experts recommend maintaining a diplomatic tone in responding to a bad review, but avoid it altogether if the comment is very much below-the-belt. Keep the channels for constructive criticism open, and don’t forget to properly acknowledge positive feedback from clients or customers.

Engaging customers and patiently listening to their concerns is one way to reassure them you are on their side. They can help spread good word of mouth – or online reviews – about your business.  

Local SEO: Limiting the Competition

Pitting a worldwide brand against a local fashion store in the heart of Melbourne may as well be the biggest mismatch in business history. You’re free to raise David and Goliath as an example on how underdogs can outwit the big guys. However, when the big guys are just as witty as the underdog (or even wittier), it’s impossible to call such a situation a “fair fight”.

This is one of the rationales behind the idea of limiting online marketing competition to a local scale. For instance, search engines like Google have taken steps to give local businesses the competitive edge and the chance to enjoy the fruits of their success. Local SEO gives them this opportunity by ranking local businesses, provided geotags (geographic location) are present in the search query.

Try searching for “restaurants in Melbourne” on Google. It should show you a map overview of restaurants in the city and their name and reviews. While McDonald’s is considered a restaurant by many, you’ll less likely need a search engine to look for one in the city. Most search queries want restaurants that have yet to ride the mainstream wagon.

This is just one of several benefits of local SEO. Local businesses won’t have to slug it out with brands the size of Earth in terms of reputation (unless they plan to enter the international market). 

Establishing a Business on Good Reputation

It is now very common for companies to build up their reputation as a marketing strategy to attract more customers. Most consumers now look for credibility and relevance when searching for the appropriate product, service, or company to meet their various needs. Aside from the usual promotion campaigns, business groups now want to showcase how dependable they are in delivering their promises when endorsing their products.