In this global market companies spend significant resources trying to extend their reach into other countries and cultures. One of the biggest hurdles European companies are facing is how to crack the short attention span of the American market. Listen to consultant David Taber talk about how he is helping his clients go global.
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2 Comments, Comment or Ping
TheMobiBlog
Good interview Chris,
I agree somewhat with David, on the message as the consumer is hit constantly with buy,buy,buy. That said" Im not very impressed with social media especially in my feild of direct to consumer sales marketing.
In plain english social media marketing does not convert sales well.
This form of media might be better for tha large brands who have the budgets to generate maybe sales some year in the future..
One of the reasons I feel social media is weak for selling products is because its based on tons of voices of content blurbs (Blogs) So its not easy to pin down a large enough pool of relevent data for selling a specific product.
To me a blog as a selling tool is just another bad 728×90 and theres millions of them. Chasing away buying consumers.
80% of bloggers are just horrible at marketing and do the online marketing industry dirty.
Im also getting the sense that social media is the new seo hybrid paradise..Seems like the people who are heaviest in social media are actually stay home business operators who are involved in some blogging activity or work for blog seo firms placing links for advertisers in an effort to improve rank & indexing for advertisers.
I imagine so the advertisers can direct sell to consumers better via keyword search now higher on the page.
Im concerned that social media and its continued growth is harming the conventional media industry and will create consolidation that will close many networks,agencies and media firms.
In closing: I hope im wrong..
May 2nd, 2008
Scott Parent
Social Media is not for converting sales. It is for driving traffic and brand-building. One thing that we see over and over is people trying to fit that square peg into a round hole. Like Shiv says, people need to stop looking at Social Media as "the end." Instead it is a means to an end that can be monetized.
If companies are interested in listening to their customers and engaging them in a genuine dialog, social media is the right tool. For straight sales conversions on a budget - affiliate marketing is the best place to put your money.
-Scott
May 5th, 2008
Reply to “RS #14 - David Taber of Taber Consulting”