Social Media – The Year That Was

• December 20th

  

  It’s that time when people are saying things like “I can’t believe how fast this year has gone”, “Hasn’t it flown”, “Christmas already” and of course “How crappy is this weather!”, which is a new addition for 2011′s summer.

  For many of us, it has been quite a year.  We’ve had clients that have struggled under the weight of the GFC, others who are reporting their best year ever and some who have planned to make 2012 a cracker.

  In 2011, social media really ‘bedded down’ – it became a main stream marketing activity for business and absolutely necessary where searchability and indexability by Google is concerned.  Remember 10 or 15 short years ago, a website was not necessary?  In 2011 any business without a web presence was (and is) doing themselves a serious disservice.  Given that 80% of people search the internet before they make any buying decision, to be without a web presence ensures that you are missing a huge slice of any market.

  Social Media has become the next layer of the web – first we adopted email, then we began to realise the power of a website and now, social layering is critical and adoption of social media of some description is required.

  We saw the rise of Google + although it’s still in it’s infancy, I do think it will gain traction for a number of reasons, particularly as I am sure the Google Apps will all interface in a nice and easy to use system.  Of course, anyone utilising Google apps will gain themselves some traction in the search engine rankins and with that said, YouTube is also a Google site – so make 2012 a year you use video for your business!  Video says it better.

  Facebook continued to change and whilst some love it – clients often struggle with the constant changes.  Business pages have not seen significant change for a few months but the changes to personal profiles always keep clients guessing.

  Twitter is on the verge of launching widely available brand pages – we’ll see how these take off in coming months although I find that even companies tend to have individuals who wave the batten for tweeting, rather than necessarily having an ‘organisational voice’.

  LinkedIn is still a great way to touch your database and to use as your online “rolodex” – why business people don’t use this fantastic, highly indexed social site more effectively is just beyond me!  LinkedIn provides us with so many opportunities and I encourage clients to use this – even if this is the ONLY social site they use.

  Finally, 2011 has been an enormous year for me and Video Social Marketing.  Professionally the business was awarded a “Highly Commended” award in starting a new business and the absolute highlight was being awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year”.

  To have been named as an award winning business person, in a category of business that is still in it’s infancy was truly amazing and humbling.  So as 2011 comes to a close, I thank all the clients that gave me the opportunity to become an official “award winner” and sincerely look forward to working with clients in 2012 to put their businesses on the (new) Google and online map!

  With greatest of thanks for a fabulous year, the team at VSM wish you and yours an outstanding and restful Christmas and I look forward to being part of your winning team in 2012.

  Turn social media to business profits

  Meredith

   

   

   

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