Social media strategies, when blended with traditional marketing, allow companies to focus on building and nurturing customer relationships. And, in order to do that, the visual and textural messaging must first be opened and read and second be of value to the reader. Well- branded social media, whether email marketing, blogs or posts on Facebook or Twitter, extend brand awareness through design. If it looks like a textual listserve bulletin of times past, it’s unlikely the email will be opened, nor does it promote a customized message from a specific brand. Conversely, a well-designed, branded message encourages engagement.
Additionally, the public has grown up quite a bit since friending days on early MySpace, and now requires content rich, fair, truthful information. Today’s online participants have research skills; they talk with others. They become incredibly loyal, brand stewards of the brands who conduct intelligent, helpful conversations and listen. So, here is Galley’s tip of the month to the smart businesses putting their collective toes in the water with social media campaigns: when businesses send valuable branded information to their customers and listen to their responses, everyone wins.
