Direct marketing or social media marketing – who says that you only can choose one? Some marketing experts believe that traditional direct marketing messages have no place in social media. There are also others who believe that you can achieve a balance with the right social media advertising. As long as you’re not being overtly spammy, I don’t see the harm in promoting direct marketing messages. After all, don’t your friends and followers want the value that you have to provide? One thing is for sure, social media has transformed the way that businesses will promote themselves online and off.
Nowdays, even big corporations are smart enough to realize that blasting Twitter with self promotion will not help their online credibility. Brands like Coca-Cola are doing a great job of being engaging while still successfully reinforcing their brand image. If you ask me, it’s harder for smaller businesses to have the same translate that same passion into social media. But, I guess it’s just how you look at things:
- Instead of asking for e-mail addresses, why not offer customers a free download or coupon?
- Instead of sending snail mail for an upcoming event, why not invite locals on Facebook?
- Instead of just a traditional press release, why not push it towards all your social media profiles?
All the capabilities of direct marketing can be incorporated into a social media forum if you take the time to do some listening as well. I think direct marketing and social media can go hand in hand and it’s definitely something that we have to look forward to in the future.
Any point where this starts looking bad?
