As the holiday season is now on its way, most businesses are certainly planning and thinking about how they will provide a memorable and positive shopping experience. With social media providing new ways for your customers to engage with one another and share everything under the sun—including their experiences—it has also become a touch point and, in many cases, a deciding factor for the choices that they make in all aspects of their lives.
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This is the mega million dollar question. We don’t need to mention the stats. All businesses are now re-analyzing their marketing mixes and plans to find out who really is their target market. I think marketing to women is truly key for all businesses. The problem is (as mentioned in a meeting earlier this week) what happens if we market to women and we find out—through our research and analysis—that our target market is really men or a higher percentage of men? What do we do then?
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In light of the response that I have received from some of my Linkedin Group members about the posts that I have shared—regarding social media—there is still a discomfort in moving ahead for many companies and business people. There are many others that are diving in and can see that this is now the best way to get leverage with their customers in this new soft economy—preparing for the robust but different future. We know that if you create the right strategy to begin with (know what your goals are before you start) you can and will be successful. Better yet, focus on the target market that has the spending and decision making power. Yes…I’m talking about women. They use social media and spend a significant time online. They love to share information and they want to engage with the companies that will fulfill their needs and address their challenges (because they understand). And the end benefit is that your company will gain a brand evangelist and a repeat customer that spreads the word to others like wild fire!
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Today’s post is apropos, as it addresses the fact that the means of communication prior to the advent of technology began with stories. At the dawn of evolution, stories were spread by word of mouth or drawn onto stone walls to be documented and passed along from generation to generation. I have always said that everyone has a story to tell. The value of that story is priceless when it is authentic, transparent and leads to why something clearly stands out and grabs at your core. A story that says, “this is the way I think, the way the I feel and the way that I want to lead my life.” Social media now provides the opportunity to return back to an earlier time by encouraging people to not only engage one-to-one with the products and services that they value and use, but also with each other.
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Well into his first full week as President of the United States, Barack Obama—with the backing of the US Congress—is signing into legislation equal pay for equal work! Woot as many say on twitter when someone loves something.
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