Sunday, 27 January 2013

How to Socially Market into your Community

So many financial advisers are sceptical about social marketing. It's a fear response. Like your clients who can't contemplate their own demise and so baulk at your wealth protection plans - YOU can't get your head around using a different set of tools to communicate.

Social marketing is just like a mail box drop or sending out random flyers and mail outs with a BIG difference - social marketing actually works and is targeted and demonstrates who you are and connects you directly with your end customer.

All you need to to ......is a little work.

Here's how in a few easy steps:

1) Do your research on your community. I love census data....I love census night ...what? Am I the only one? Here's why I love it you get gold quality information.

Here's one we prepared a little earlier:

Demographicss of a suburb in good old Melbourne.

According to the 2011 census:

- population 23,814
- 48.6 percent makes
- 51.4 percent females

- median age is 33 years

- 60 percent born in Australia
- 65 percent have english as their first language

- 30 percent married
- 55 percent not married

- 69 percent full time workers
- 21 percent part time
- 4.4 percent unemployed

- 39 percent are professionals
- 16 percent management
- 14 percent clerical / admin
- 8 percent sales people
- 12 percent manual workers 

- median rent is $369 per week
- median mortgage repayment is $2383 per month

- 20 percent fully owned homes
- 24 percent mortgage
- 54 percent rented

- individual income $905 per week

- households $1697 per week

2) How to engage your community


- Check out the local council website and twitter account and see how many followers they have and what the topics are
- you will probably find mostly the tweets are about projects and what's on
- often the key issues seem to be transport
- nothing too exciting
- but the followers are quite engaged in the community and comprise journalists, politicians, councillors, and generally people who care about and are involved in the community

- when you look at facebook pages in the suburb of your interest- they are small businesses, community groups, clubs : and there are lots of them

The idea would be that:

- you create a twitter account and facebook page under your business name
- in the profile you describe what you do and who you are
- you follow the local council twitter account
- you follow some of their followers - look for the most active, better tweets, those who are promoting the community and engagement 
- "like" local Facebook pages 

- then respond with "likes" when they post stuff (twitter or Facebook)
- write comments when they post stuff (twitter or Facebook)
- when someone follows you on twitter - thank them


- your own content should be : information, education, comments on community issues, inspiration, humour, and lots of local photos (demonstrating you are involved in and observant of your community)

- this should take you no longer than 15 minutes a day : We can help you with content ideas

3) What's the vibe in the community?

Maybe:

- community
- sustainable
- diverse
- inclusive
- progressive
- dynamic


4) Pitch

Who you are:

Make sure your pitch is shaped to who you are and the vibe.

Critical in a clients trust of a brand is : what do they do and who are they : and situationally where are they.  Remember what you are: a local business engaged with your community......you are aren't you?


For help on the specifics check out www.positiveclientengagement.com under the coaching page.



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