Social Media...Fad or Revolution?

Many people I speak with think social media is a fad or something their kids do. I'm kind of having a deja vu moment right now. Remember in 1997, when I first talked to some of you about marketing your business on the web and getting your 1st website? Many thought the internet was a fad. I guess social media could be a fad, or it could be the single greatest shift since the industrial revolution. Consider these 20 facts, then draw your own conclusions.

DID YOU KNOW?

1.  This year Generation Y will pass Baby Boomers in total numbers?
2.  96% of this group has joined a social network
3. Social media has passed porn as THE #1 ACTIVITY on the internet
4.  In 2009, 1 of every 8 U.S. couples who married, met using social media
5.  The Internet reach 50 Million users in 4 years
6.  Facebook added over 100 million users in less than 9 months
7.  ipod downloads hit over 1 Billion in 9 months
8. Facebook would be right behind the U.S., as the 4th largest country, "if it were a country."
9. 1 in 6 collegiate students take online courses.
10. 80% of major company HR Departments use Linked In as their main tool to find new employees
11. 80% of  Twitter use is on smart phones & mobile devices (people are conversing anywhere anytime)
12. Gen Y doesn't really email...they post, IM & text
13. Major Social Institutions understand. Boston College no longer gives email lists to new freshman.
14. You Tube is the 2nd biggest search engine in existence, hosting over 100,000,000 videos
15.  Wikipedia has over 13 million articles published from all over the world
16. There are over 200 million blogs & over 50% of the bloggers add content or tweet every day.
17. 34% of bloggers post opinions on products or brands. 
18. 78% of consumers trust friends recommendations, while only 14% trust advertisements
19. 24 of the Nations top 25 newspapers have reported record declines in circulation
20. More than 1.5 million pieces of content get shared on Facebook every day

What do think? Is social media a fad? No Way! It's a major, fundamental shift in they way people communicate. We no longer need to search for the news at our front door, in the bushes, or at the end of the driveway. News finds us online & on our mobile devices; with tweets and posts from friends and those we follow. Very soon we won't be searching for products and services either. They'll find us using social media.

The smartest independent business professionals and companies will stop talking at people through traditional advertisements and start acting like party planners & industry experts by publishing unique, relevant & compelling content that people want to follow. It's the conversation that will create and maintain "top mind awareness," of you and your brand for potential clients.

What are people saying about you and your brand now? 

ARE YOU READY?

Contact me directly to discuss this article or your specific Multi Media Marketing needs. 

Rick Headley "Your Hero on The Web"

Meet Rick

 Questions?...Email Rick 

 (920) 475 - 1549 

Back To The Future

I've helped many of you build successful internet businesses, beginning in 1997. Let's take a trip back to the future. Close your eyes and think about 1997 and the internet. You weren't yet aware that Al Gore invented the internet or that 90 % of all home buyers would start their home search on the web. Remember the sound of dial up? Since there were no online meetings, I actually sat in your office with a 3 ring binder and showed you why you needed to build an internet business. Back then, could you ever imagine how much business would come to you from the internet? In fact, many Realtors were asking questions like, "who's ever going to look for a home on their computer?" Many clients thought they were creating an online bill board or business card. Do you remember what your online business was like in 1997?

The internet marketing success we created together was solely about traffic, search engine optimization, keyword placement, banner & pop-up ads and other strategies to deliver visitors to your website. The single focus for many was to make the Google Top 10 List. #1 Expert pioneered listing distribution and created the 1st and most successful advertising network, so you didn't place all your eggs in the ever changing Google basket. Consumers found you online, and you captured their contact information so you could follow up immediately or farm leads with drip campaigns.

Number 1 Expert is still the best turn key internet business exclusively for TOP PRODUCING AGENTS.

What's changed in 2010? Well let's start with the expectations and behavior of the new online consumer. How are buyers and sellers using the web today? FREE social media channels have forever changed the way people seek, find, and research you and your services (especially for generation X & Y consumers).

Did you know that 1 of every 8 couples married in 2009 met online? If people are using the internet to make life long choices, as important as finding a husband or wife; then how will they find their Realtor or Mortgage Broker? Many simply ask their friends a question on their Facebook status "Whose a truly professional Real Estate Agent who can help me market and sell my home in Appleton,WI for what it's worth?" In minutes, friends who I already know, like and trust will post advice. Friends will also post testimonials and links to; websites, articles and videos that will help me make an educated, comfortable choice.

(Most Powerful is the fact that THIS PROFESSIONAL WAS REFERRED!).

The new consumer doesn't listen to or watch the expensive advertising, waste time in the yellow pages, care about a billboard, read direct mail, or look for you in the local paper. Why would they, when they could just ask their friends and family for an opinion they can trust? It's quick, easy, and FREE. Plus don't you trust your friends more than an ad?

So we've come full circle. Most of you created your successful businesses by serving clients needs, making them happy and advising them on important financial decisions. Because they already know like and trust you, you get repeat business and referrals. Then came the internet, your website and collecting impersonal "leads" and some become client's. Now, through social media, you have the ability to communicate more effectively with those who already "know, like and trust you." Using a focused, social media plan, you can create "Top Mind Awareness," so that these clients refer even more business your way.

Contact me directly to discuss this article or your specific Multi Media Marketing needs. 

Rick Headley "Your Hero on The Web"

Meet Rick

 Questions?...Email Rick 

 (920) 475 - 1549