Social media is the latest marketing buzz word. But what is it and do you need it? Over the course of the next few weeks, I will be writing this Leveraging Social Media column to help you understand the differing values of the major social media sites as they relate to marketing your business. Businesses small and large are scrambling to hit the social media landscape, but honestly, most just don’t know what they’re doing. They’ll insist they need a Facebook and Twitter presence, but don’t know why. The purpose of this column will be to provide you with a clear understanding of these tools so you can choose the one(s) right for you. What Is Social Media Marketing? Social media is simply a different way of connecting with your customer. It is a more personal connection which takes place on a website. It all started with internet website blogging then sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn popped up. Now companies can virtually “talk” with their customers on a personal level through one of these sites. Visitors or “friends” of a company page usually expect some kind of special deal or discount for being a “friend” of the brand. It’s also a good place to meet with other people who share your love for a brand. The “talk” can be through the typed conversation, short article, a few words or even through video. Where does Social Media Marketing fit in with your corporate marketing department? Because of the necessary constant flow of text and the need for proficient writing skills, I see social media as an arm of the public relations department which must work closely with the promotions department. Larger corporations may appoint a person or people to act as the “voice” or “personality” of the organization through one or more of the organization’s social media sites. Or they might hire a social media marketing company like Avenue 25 to either provide these full services or for consulting. Although social media marketing is in its infancy, it is very effective when handled properly. Marketing professionals around the world are still trying to forecast the direction social media is headed and how to best exploit these opportunities to our client’s best interest. Not the least of which is how to accurately measure results. What we are certain of, is that these are powerful new tools and this is an exciting new era of advertising and marketing. At this time, Avenue 25 is one of the few Phoenix web design and advertising agencies to offer social media marketing. And we’re excited to be playing an active role in developing this new field of marketing. Avenue 25’s Phoenix web design, advertising and internet marketing professionals are here to help you with all your advertising, web design and marketing needs.