It’s obvious that social media has completely changed the marketing business. But is it just a bunch of hoopla or is it worth the time, effort and money for your brand?

You bet your bottomline it is!

Recent social media studies report that when customers are exposed to social media content they are more likely to buy than those who weren’t (Social Media Sales Impact Study, published by Ogilvy & Mather). But that’s not all. When customers are exposed to a marketing/social media mix the likelihood to buy increases even more.

Let me introduce you to what we do here at Publicity Works – Convergence Media. The process of merging several media channels to exist and operate in synergy or better yet, harmony.

We have mastered a media mix of traditional and social platforms. Social media along with TV exposure, advertising and public relations positively impacts sales and brand awareness.  A word of caution, don’t just tweet a few times a day and throw a post on your Facebook page.  You must engage in an on-going conversation with your audience.

Get social with us on twitter @publicity_works and facebook and check out our pr manager and social media pro, Stephanie, aka @SNGsaysWhat in Hometown Life Woman today!

Running a business is hard enough and marketing your brand, product and yourself takes extra time, energy and brainpower. But to be successful and acquire more business you must do more than care for your customers, douse fires, and pay bills.

Publicity Works is here to help! We’ve come up with a few simple tips to market your business that doesn’t cost a fortune and won’t crush your cranium.

Give Thanks! We are huge fans of the personal thank you note. If someone has referred you, helped you, given you a plug via social media, let them know you appreciate it.

Blog. Even if they are brief, show the web that you have something to offer that other companies don’t.

Network like a pro. There are so many ways to connect with people in your industry as well as other vendors and contractors that could send you additional business. Find a way to connect whether it’s coffee talk, a cocktail party, linkedin or facebook.

Holler! If you like what you see let the owner of the intellectual property know you dig it. You never know what kind of products or services they may be in the market for. Introduce yourself via e-mail or social media and give them kudos. After all, everyone loves a shout-out.

Stay Current. Be sure to update your website and social media platforms with your most current work. You’d hate to be overlooked because you seem out-of-touch.

If you like what you see here give us a shout!

Follow us on twitter @publicity_works and like us on facebook.

Your company’s revamped Web site is up-and-running and your social media networks are in place. Now what?

It’s time to start the conversation. Social marketing is a participation game. It’s about engagement. Successful social marketing campaigns require a fresh, consistent stream of useful online content. Here are three tips to keep in mind:

 Be a Publisher

Remember, your company has more to offer than products and services. You can provide useful information. Treat yourself like a publisher. Talk about your industry. Position yourself as an expert, all by crafting interesting content. Sonia Simone, senior editor of Copyblogger noted “great content gives social media life by giving people something more interesting to talk about than what they’re ordering right now at Starbucks.”

Show Personality

When creating content, take a multi-faceted approach. Post useful information and do so often. Give your Web site and social networks a shot of personality. Rebecca Lieb, vice president of eConsultancy, considers that a proven approach. “Think of the personalities not only of your consumers, but of your organization, your brand and your products,” she wrote in Marketwire.com. “This is not a new concept – we’ve had personalities like the Maytag Man in advertising for decades.”

Get Search Results

Once you’ve solidified a voice and committed to fresh content, you’ll reap the benefits of attracting new visitors. As Lee Odden of Mashable explained: “Websites that frequently add content provide more web pages for search engines to include in search results and attract more links from other websites.” Likewise, Brent Csutoras of Search Engine Land, wrote: “Content is what will convince people to return to your site and sign up for RSS feeds. It will be what inspires another blogger or webmaster to want to link to you… it will be what is likely to help your content and site rank better within search engines.

That’s right, content and search engine optimization go hand-in-hand. Your words – be it a blog entry, Tweet or Web page content – can work for or against your business goals. So get going, craft your next message, connect with a new Facebook fan or comment on a relevant blog. And let us know how it impacts your business.