There are no Silver Bullets

Social Media! Social Media! Social Media! Sometimes it seems that’s all people want to talk about. Oprah, Ellen and Tyra dedicated entire shows to it. CNN, FOX and NBC add it to the scroll of every newscast. Ashton Kutcher has declared himself the king of Twitter. Even Barbara Walters and Larry King are jumping in.

The buzz can be deafening. But it also can be a little misleading.

If your marketing plan doesn’t include a social media component, it’s a massive FAIL. Conversely, if your whole marketing strategy relies on social media, that’s also is a massive FAIL. Social media is no doubt an integral part of a successful marketing plan. The key to remember is: it’s just one part.

The most effective campaigns involving several distinct communication channels.

First things first — create a solid foundation for your brand — or as I like to say “don’t invite guests over until your house is clean”. Make sure your corporate identity, website and print collateral are engaging, convey trust and align with your brand anthem.

Next, use traditional mass mediums (TV, Radio, Print, Outdoor) to raise awareness. Be smart with your media buys to preserve capital and reach the right audience.
Choose participatory avenues like social media and event marketing to interact with your target customers, further the conversation and build relationships.

Finally, layer in activation tactics like direct mail, email campaigns and promotions to ask for the sale.

A good market plan gets all your initiatives working together to achieve your business goals.

Curve can help you navigate through all of the avenues of marketing. Give me a call at 248.253.0303 to find out how. Consider us the Molly Maids of communication. Except we don’t do windows.