The 5 goals of social media marketing (SMM)

Social Media Marketing Campaigns: How to Set Goals and Define Your Target Market

DoshDosh suggests that there are 5 primary reason to get involved in SMM:

1. Brand awareness
   
2. Reputation management
3. SEO
4. Site traffic generation
5. To drive sales

I suspect the end-goal of all marketing is to drive sales, however. But in this posting the specific goal is to promote a new product release or similar via a trusted blogger in the community.

The post wraps up with this gem: "social media visibility = brand awareness + word of mouth = new customer." Obvious in a way, but worth including in any marketing materials on selling blogging.

SEO v. SMO, the battle rages on

10 Misconceptions Why SEO is Better than SMO Refuted

Among the suggestions from Tad Szewczyk is that SMO should occupy about 95% of time and effort within SEO efforts. In this posting, Tad spells out some common misconceptions about who can be successful in social media, blogging in particular. The general point is that small business can and should participate, whether they do so with humor or do so with utmost seriousness.