Why Social Media Will Take You to the Next Level

I'm sure you have heard that social media is the hot topic in marketing and that you need to be there, but here are some stats to back up the hype.

The following infographic presents some great evidence from this year's Social Media Examiner's Marketing Industry Report to support the trends of social media this year (download the report here).

From this 43 page report, here are the keys that you need to know to take your company to the next level:

YouTube is the new golden child.

According to the report, 69% of marketers plan to increase their use of the platform, which is no surprise. YouTube is the little known tool to significantly help with SEO.  Marketers are constantly fighting for keywords on Google, pushing up the cost per pick and Google ad pricing, whereas YouTube presents a cost-effective alternative that is relatively untapped. Although your website may not appear at the top for certain terms, your properly uploaded YouTube video might.

Podcasting is exploding.

This is the hottest marketing trend of 2013. This platform is wide open and savvy brands are jumping on the podcast bandwagon. Stats have increased from 5% of marketers podcasting to 24% of marketers increasing their podcasting efforts.

Facebook and LinkedIn is where marketers are investing their time.

In the survey of marketers, when asked which social media platform they would choose it they could only choose one was Facebook (49%), followed by LinkedIn(16%).

#1 benefit of Social Media is increased exposure.

Although we all would like the track every sale with social media to show ROI, the real reason we use social media is for market awareness. These platforms allow brands to interact with their customers cost effectively in a way that was previously not possible.

See the stats for yourself...

Image source: www.topwebdesignschools.org

It is clear from the infographic above that brands are investing in social media and it is becoming more and more important every year to an overall marketing strategy. Will your company be left in the dust or will you make a splash in your market and utilize social media to its greatest potential?

Still not convinced social media can help your business? Let me know why in the comments below.

If this post struck a chord with you and you are ready to increase your exposure online, then look no further. I am here to help you be able to get back to what you do best and I can handle the rest.

Click the “Contact Us Now” button to get started. If you would like a sample of the ideas we could generate to help your business, click here for a free digital marketing report, custom-made for your company. Even if you are not in Tulsa, I also do have consulting available for you to purchase to get one-on-one help from me to kick-start your next project, company, idea…the skies the limit. Click here for more info on those services.

Why Speakeasy?

Learn about our Owner and how Speakeasy came to be.

Why Speakeasy?

It has been many months in the making and we are nowlive! Now many of you first coming to this site may be wondering, Speakeasy Market Strategies....what does it mean and why are there drinks all over the site? What kind of marketing agency features drinking in their business?

What's in a name?

Let's first start with the basics. When I was first brainstorming names for my company, I wanted it to have a deeper meaning than just a regular marketing agency. After all, this agency is what I am pursuing for my career, it has to be named something powerful, memorable, and something that people can understand. So many agencies today have names that must be explained in depth or that only aliens can pronounce. Marketing is meant to be understood and encourage people to act, so they must be able to understand who they are working with.

Now, I have always been fascinated with history and after hitting writer's block I took some time to define what marketing meant to me. All I could get in my head was "word of mouth." Marketing has progressed over the centuries, but at its core, people talk about the experiences they have with companies, the ads they see, and of course the opinions of their friends.  Ultimately people purchase based on many factors, but "word of mouth" has always been one of the MOST powerful tools for sales.

I then took the concept of "word of mouth" and began to ponder on powerful "word of mouth" campaigns from the past. It was then that the concept of the 1920's Speakeasy came to mind. During a time of prohibition, the selling of alcohol was outlawed, yet people sold it underground simply through "word of mouth." I am not condoning breaking the law in the least, but the strategy of "word of mouth" for the Speakeasy worked! In today's world we are consumed with tweeting, posting on Facebook, checking-in on Foursquare and such. Social media has created an opportunity for digital "word of mouth" marketing and companies leverage the world of social media for sales and brand awareness.

With the connection of the Speakeasy and marketing strategies, Speakeasy Marketing Strategies was born. My goal with my company is to build strategies that allow business owners to take time to enjoy life and be able to enjoy Happy Hour.

So take some time, look around the site. It is filled with free resources to help give you inspiration and information about the digital marketing world. I will be blogging about the basics of social media, marketing strategy, and advice for small business owners.

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I may not be able to take you out for that drink, but I am here to help get your marketing on the right track. If you are business owner that feels like they are struggling in today's digital marketing, then look no further. We are here to help you be able to get back to what you do best and we can handle the rest. Click the "Contact Us Now" button to get started. If you would like a sample of the ideas we could generate for you, click here for a free digital marketing report, custom made for your company.