rahman
Have you watched the movie "The Social Network"?
I finally had a chance to see the movie this past weekend and ever since,
I've been thinking about Facebook. The movie illustrated the amazing viral
power of social media.
The creators of Facebook did not have to invest in marketing, search engine
optimization, advertising, etc.. Facebook promoted itself virally. Simple word
of mouth took the web site from an idea to a massive international business.
Wouldn't we all like our business ideas to be so powerful!
Sure, I've had a personal Facebook presence for a while and I enjoy sharing
with friends.
But until this past weekend, I avoided putting up a Facebook page for a business.
However, I'm now convinced Facebook, or your social network of choice,
is essential to creating a viral campaign.
Setting up a social network presence is a great compliment to your existing
email marketing efforts.
With Facebook you can push your email marketing messages virally to an
untapped audience.
Email and Social Networks work together to accomplish the same goals
for your business.
- Expand your audience
- Respond to your Calls to Action (visit a site, buy a product)
Yes, you can use a Social network to grow your email list but the real power
of social networking is to send your message virally across the Internet.
So how can you make your emails go viral?
Here's a simple 6 step guide that I'm going to follow and you can too.
1) Set up a Facebook account and create Facebook page.
I've chosen to start my Social Network expansion with Facebook as 64%
of all U.S. online consumers have a Facebook profile.
2) Ask people to like you!
Send out an email to your newsletter list and ask your subscribers to Like you.
Use the tools that Facebook provides to get more Likes.
- Create a Facebook Like Box and put it on your web site and blog.
- Send via Facebook's Resources an email to your contact list and ask your
contacts to Like You. (Facebook allows you to access an existing web email
account or email software contact list and upload it.) Please take a minute to Click to Like the new SendFree | DEMC Facebook page.
3) Provide an incentive to get people to Like You
Survey's show the majority of people will Like your business page if you
offer a discount, promotion, freebie or exclusive deal.
So create your special offer first and then make your "Like It" request.
Here's an offer for you:
Want a free classified ad run in an upcoming issue of DEMC?
Like SendFree on Facebook and share it with your friends. The
person who shares the most will get a free ad in DEMC!
Click to Like the new SendFree | DEMC Facebook page.
Once you're logged into Facebook click on the Welcome Tab of the
SendFree | DEMC Facebook page to participate in the contest.
4) Share content on your Facebook page.
What content can you share?
Keep it simple, share your email newsletter or your blog posts.
Avoid strong sales pitches and buy now offers.
Come up with interesting and entertaining content. Be creative with what you
share. Try mixing in stories, jokes and ask questions along with your
informative content.
Consider this stat when you compose your posts: consumers find Facebook
to be so much fun that 30% of them classify it as a "guilty pleasure."
So think "FUN" when you share on Facebook.
5) Ask your subscribers and fans to Share your content with their friends.
Include in your email newsletter and on your blog a "Share on Facebook"
link. Also include a Share link for each individual post/article on your
site, so people can share just the excerpt they like as well.
You can easily use AddThis, to create free tracking links
you can use to share your email with all your Social Networks.
6) Provide an incentive to get fans to share your content.
- Offer greater and greater discounts for the more a fan shares.
- Provide an exclusive product to all who share with at least 5 people.
- Give to charity for each new Like your Facebook page receives.
- Reward the fans who share the most with recognition on your page.
Here again is an offer for you:
Want a free classified ad run in an upcoming issue of DEMC?
Like SendFree on Facebook and share it with your friends. The
person who shares the most will get a free ad in DEMC!
Click to Like the new SendFree | DEMC Facebook page.
Once you're logged into Facebook click on the Welcome Tab of the
SendFree | DEMC Facebook page to participate in the contest.
When your fans start sharing your Facebook content with their friends,
you have achieved going viral! Simply continue to repeat the process -
inputting more content and requesting more shares!
###
Abbie Drew
DEMC Editor
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Quote for today:
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"He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens
our skills. Our antagonist is our helper." - Edmund Burke
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