What Are the 4 C's of Social Media?

Ok, so the previous posts have given  you have some information, but which one of the social media outlets should you choose?

Just hang on a minute. You should know about the 4 C’s of Social Media:

1. Communities
2. Content
3. Conversations
4. Conversion

1. Communities
Traditional advertising is about interrupting.
Social media is about sharing and interacting.

• 78% of social media users interact with companies or brands via new media sites and tools, an increase of 32% from 2008.
• 95% of new media users also believe companies or brands should have a social media presence.
• 89% believe that they should interact with their consumers using social media.

2. Content

• No hard selling
• DO NOT communicate a sales message
• DO IMPLY a sales message
• Consumers want entertained, informed, and educated.
• If they like your content they will probably like you.

If you share good content consistently over time they will likely begin to trust you

3. Conversations
Traditional Advertising: Talking AT someone.
Social Media: Talking WITH someone.

What are “Conversations?”

• A comment on a blog post,
• A retweet
• A comment on your LinkedIn or Facebook
• A “Thumbs Up” on a Facebook wall

Yes, it’s going to take some time. Interesting that I recently had a conversation about Twitter. it was compared to snack food: “It tastes good, takes alot of time to eat, but has no nutritional value” At this point in time in the manufacturing sector, that is probably a true statement. In 6 months….?

THE KEY: You put out a message or content and someone chooses to respond.
These conversations and those among others will have an impact.

• 51% of respondents say that social media has influenced their online transactions.
• 78% of consumers trust peer recommendations

4. Conversion
All of the pieces should work together to lead to Conversion.

Common mistake: Send people to the home page. It builds traffic but may not help build DIALOGUE.
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Remember when we talked about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) a while back?  
Did you click on that link?
You probably should. It’s pretty important.

In fact, if you haven’t read it here’s the synopsis:
The time was when the search engines looked for key words to rank you via a formula. Now part of that formula is whom you are LINKED to from your website. The more links you have to someone who also has alot of links is a good thing and will drive searches to you.

I recall a conversation back in 2003 with a principal of mine, when I was an agent, and he said that HIS company name and website appeared 2nd on a google search while my website appeared above it. I explained then that it had to do with understanding the links and how the formula works.