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November 21, 2012

The A-"bility" of Social Media

By Cheri Roberts

What can social media do for you and your career or business? Not much if you don't understand its power. For those willing to embrace social media as a tool it has the a-"bility" to...

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(Article changed on November 22, 2012 at 09:30)

(Article changed on November 22, 2012 at 09:27)

VISIBILITY: Social Media is one of the few ways a company can be "seen" without a hard-cost attached to the effort. It allows you to craft a message and expose it -- along with your image, to countless eyes over and over again. These are called "imprints" and "frequency". Statistically it takes someone at least three times to see or hear about you before they become open to seeing or hearing more. When they become familiar with your "Brand" they are more likely to refer your products or services (even if they don't need them personally). The more involved you are in the company's Social Media campaigns, the more visible the company will become to customers and prospects alike; in other words, you increase the chance they will eventually do business with us.

REACHABILITY: Social Media has a reach beyond traditional advertising and that reach can grow daily, weekly, monthly and annually at an exponential rate -- with no end in sight. Think of your Social Media efforts as an "incubation period", you know, the time when most things are contagious? Help those who are looking at your products or services on-line "Catch the Wave" of your positive message and they in turn will infect others with the knowledge of what you do via "shares", "follows", "likes", and more. This is "word of mouth" at its best!

ADAPTABILITY: Should you ever wish to modify your message -- or launch a new look -- you can do so immediately. Real-time changes are currently only possible through Social Media avenues. There is zero down time involved in getting a new message out. This allows you the option of adapting your message to the changing seasons, scheduling or buying patterns, company growth factors, product & service changes, upgrades and so much more. You can even address holidays or reach out to tell a prospect "Happy Birthday". Just imagine their surprise when you do!

BELIEVABILITY: Staying in the public eye is key to establishing trust in today's fast-paced digital world. So many businesses have been forced into the limelight for negative reasons over the past decade that people no longer know whom to trust. Generally people are more apt to believe you have nothing to hide when they think you are allowing them to see everything. Companies that utilize Social Media are less likely to be perceived as shady in their business dealings simply because they are so visible to so many. This helps project accountability and in business trust is incredibly important.

ACCESSIBILITY: Most businesses have Gate Keepers in place that are meant to help, hinder, or block access to the company's Decision Makers. Social Media allows company owners to convey the perception that THEY themselves are the ones on-line when in reality it is usually someone in Marketing. Many people feel access to the Big Wigs is "special" and they are much more receptive to what "they" have to say because they think it's "coming from the top". The reverse is also a benefit; i.e. the access YOU get into prospects' everyday lives. Through Social Media you are able to access them in their cars, at their offices, in their homes, and just about anywhere else thanks to growing technology and Smart Devices.

PROFITABILITY: For one thing, having no hard-cost attached to a marketing effort helps increase profitability simply because it keeps costs down. In addition to that savings, Social Media allows us to reach prospective customers when they are relaxed and open-minded while surfing the net. Whether it's something they need or it's something a loved one may need, they are much more inclined to look deeper into doing business with you when you become familiar to them and they don't feel like a salesman is going to be breathing down their neck. New business CAN be garnered through Social Media and it CAN help existing customers become easier to retain. Who says money doesn't grow on trees? The sky's the limit to how many dollars you can grow through your Social Media when you cultivate the seeds that have been planted.



Authors Website: http://www.cherispeak.com

Authors Bio:
Cheri has worked in media for more than 20 years in one capacity or another. Her media years were spent mostly in broadcast radio; from being a live on-air radio host to creating and implementing engaging and effective marketing and promotional campaigns. Although no longer directly employed by any media cluster she still writes copy for a range of clients and does the occasional voiceover.

Having been a writer since childhood she was able to venture into most genres along the way, fine tuning her ability to write about anything; whether it's a technical manual, a company newsletter, killer ads or a hard core research piece, Cheri brings it to life with the passion of one who loves what they do. Publishing her first piece at the age of 7 yrs. old, Cheri discovered she could have a voice beyond the walls of her bedroom and realized "other people" were entertained by, and interested, in what she had to say. Writing has been her biggest passion and best friend ever since.

From Poetry to Politics there is no subject that she cannot find an interesting angle to write from. She does not endorse a specific political party and instead prefers to keep her work issue based. Currently she is simultaneously writing a non-fiction book (with a tandem screen-play) and a bedside poetry book.

In addition to being a diversely skilled freelance writer, Cheri works as a Marketing Director and Publicist for a variety of businesses across the country. By embracing and including today's Social Media tools and the power of live events, she teaches companies the value of accessibility and human interaction to a "Brand" and how to capitalize on that in the current marketplace. As a business networker and promoter she is fearless and spot-on in helping businesses get ahead. For her tireless work ethic and bottomless pool of creative ideas she has been dubbed "The Machine" by many.

Deciding to create and maintain her own Blog as a sort of clearinghouse of all things "Cheri" www.CheriSpeak.com was born. In its highly organized and easy to navigate pages you can find countless articles on a variety of subjects that include politics, health, community, music, and more. You will also find a library of poetry from erotic to dark, countless audio files of interviews she has done over the years and accolades for her business endeavors. There are also samples of her drawings and singing voice as well as images that represent her activist, business, and personal lives. *All content on Cheri's Blog is original unless otherwise noted.

"If we have connected here, it is my privilege. May we together find the reason for the connection and run with it!" ~ Cheri Roberts
http://www.cherispeak.com

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