Utilising Social Media Marketing

Promotional Merchandise recently updated our Facebook page as part of our plan to increase our investment in social media marketing this year. Social Media marketing is playing an increasingly larger role in businesses marketing strategies. Increased communication via social media can foster brand awareness and greater customer loyalty. A corporate message can spread from user to user and because it comes from a trusted third-party rather than the brand or company it can often have a greater impact. Because this form of marketing is driven by word-of-mouth it results in earned media rather than paid media. Add to this the fact that it is a relatively inexpensive form of marketing and it is no wonder that it is being so utilised.

A recent study by Constant Contact, Inc. revealed the number of UK small to medium enterprises using social media to market their businesses is almost 40 per cent. The study surveyed almost 700 UK SMEs and found that out of those not using social media marketing, 27 per cent plan to start within the next year.

Over two thirds (68%) of the responders to Constant Contact’s survey consider social media to be an effective way to market their business, and 64 per cent reported that social media will become more important in the future. 

Of the SMEs that responded 48% reported that social media is a good way to generate word of mouth and referrals, while 45% agreed that it is a good way to communicate with existing and prospective customers and can help their business succeed. (Click here to read the article)

Social media facilitates the exchange of ideas and information at an ever greater pace. This exchange of information has resulted in advertisers needing to earn their credibility. Those with a product to sell must be part of the discussion and the debate.

Social media does not just provide companies with a platform to influence consumers. Consumers can respond and react to your marketing and brand; they can exchange ideas with companies which encourages them to appreciate that their view matters.

Promotional Merchandise has a twitter account as well as a Facebook page and we update both regularly with Quick Quote testimonials, examples of Quick Quotes that have been posted or news that we have published on our news pages. Any of our suppliers can send in company news or current special offers which we will publish on our news pages and also publicise over twitter and Facebook therefore ensuring that suppliers can reach a greater audience.

If you would like your company news posted on our website and publicised over twitter and Facebook, simply send any press releases through to editor@promotional-merchandise.org.uk. You could also help us to reach an even greater audience by following us on twitter (click here) and liking us on Facebook (click here).

Lauren Cayless White,
Editor

Share this page