GO SMALL TO GET BIG

The world of social media offers marketers an incredible opportunity to reach a very specific buyer. The infinite number of niche sites and communities makes it fairly easy to locate and connect with people who want to buy your product. It’s unfortunate that many companies are still missing out on this opportunity because their marketing teams are doing Facebook ads and pitching Chris Brogan. Not to say that such ‘high-level’ marketing (as I call it) shouldn’t be done). But sometimes to get big on social media sites you should go to the very niche communities and plant your ideas there first.

Those communities might be very small. There might be an overwhelming amount to choose from which will make it very time consuming to pick the right ones. You will have to dedicate your time and resources to becoming a true member of those communities. But the benefits outweigh the challenges. Besides saving you some cash and waited efforts, social media niche marketing builds relationships based on trust. You are reaching your buyers on their turf where they feel warm, cozy and… safe. This makes them more open to new ideas, especially when they come from a trusted member of their community and are supported by others.

Here are a few questions you should answer before ‘going small’:

• What can you provide that's new and compelling to met your market’s unique needs?
• Do you know your market’s “hot buttons” and communicate as a member of the niche, not an outsider?
• Who are the direct competitors and how will you position against them?

Check out this article on Entrepreneur.com for a more detailed strategy for niche marketing.