Social Media is More CRM Than An Ad Vehicle

Posted on October 8th, 2009 by Larry Chase

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Social Media or Web 2.0 is considered to be the participatory web. It invites the user to participate. Sticking ads into this 2-way dynamic often seems too intrusive.

Intrusive ads on Social Media sites remind me of someone trying to advertise in the middle of a telephone conversation. It’s a turnoff and, therefore, is counterproductive.

Look at Social Media as a feedback loop. Don’t try to talk, just listen to what’s being said about you, your competitors and industry as a whole. Think of it as a huge focus group, only better, because people are spontaneously volunteering their inner thoughts.

Don’t be one of those marketers who think that just because there’s a new hot online venue that is attracting millions of people, that you can shove an ad in front of them, and expect it to work. Just because people congregate, that doesn’t mean they want to see marketing messages right then and there.

The Internet Marketing Tip above originally appeared in Larry Chase's Web Digest For Marketers which you can subscribe to at no charge at www.wdfm.com.