A social media marketer is a fairly new term and job description.
Maintaining and gaining customer support within the parameters of an internet
housed fan base is an important concern for all businesses and organizations
who want to be a part of the new economy. A social media marketer creatively
uses internet tools such as blogs, facebook, twitter, and youtube to gain a network
of fans and potential clientele. They help develop and implement a new set of integrated 21st century communications tools to efficiently and effectively engage viewers. Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, states that: "Social media marketing programs usually center on efforts to create content that attracts attention and encourages readers to share it with their social networks. A corporate message spreads from user to user and presumably resonates because it appears to come from a trusted, third-party source, as opposed to the brand or company itself. Hence, this form of marketing is driven by word-of-mouth, meaning it results in earned media rather than paid media."
People in general have become jaded and tired of being advertised to through ads and commercials. The advertisement and marketing paradigm of the last century just doesn't work like it used to. People want to feel a sense of connection and importance to the things that they support monetarily. They want a relationship with those they do business with. The age of big box stores and mainstream coldhearted marketing is over! Yes, they do still exist, and yes, they are still making money, but like I said, the economy is shifting. We are collectively shifting away from the old ways of business. We are moving away from these outdated models that have no place within the exciting and ever changing internet connected, web based, global economy. A new system of economics is being birthed at this moment, right here, and right now. I must admit that I am very excited about these changes. I feel them and see them everyday in the newspaper headlines as well as in the hopes and fears of people as they try to adapt to it as momentum grows rapidly for this new economic paradigm.
A social media marketer should be technologically capable, while also people sensitive.
An artistic sense of design is necessary, as well as good writing skills. A sixth sense for social trends and being current on modern day culture is crucial. It is important to have an open mind while continually learning and adapting to collective needs in order to be effective in social media marketing.
Specific job duties begin with the management of online social media accounts. These may include Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and Youtube, as well as others when deemed necessary. Coordination with business staff on a daily basis to post applicable updates and eye catching material and articles on these sites helps to generate buzz. An outreach
email newsletter, as well as management of email accounts may be another job duty as well. Website design and maintenance, such as content updating helps for the website to show up in search engines. The basic idea is for the online business accounts to expand and for the social media subscriber base to grow through the electronic media marketers' efforts.
Social media marketing, is just one facet of services I offer. It is my goal to act as a medium between the virtual and physical business worlds. I translate through the computer, transmute through the internet, and often feel like the midwife birthing balance between two different worlds. The new public forums and social media sites can feel overwhelming. That is where I come in. I administer the technological savviness to help with connecting various businesses and organizations to their customers, therefore building a social network fan base. I am the eyes and ears, the sensitive who feels, the artist translating through the computer format. I am honestly thrilled by this new marketing medium. It feels very real and alive. It is a refreshing splash to the stagnant and antiquated economic ways of the twentieth century.
