Tag Archives: Social Media

Social Media is Bright Spot for Ad Agencies

In the midst of some pretty challenging economic times for most ad agencies, the Boston Business Journal reports that “the social media revolution represents a burgeoning area of opportunity for agencies.”

While clients have cut media budgets, the Journal notes in its June 12 edition, they “are keen on increased investments in social media strategies.”

Social media is an inexpensive, effective and highly targeted way to reach audiences. As an executive with Brand Networks Inc. put it, “Most agencies in town are investing in this area—even in cases where I’ve read about layoffs, I know they’re making moves internally to build this capability.”

Don Beehler provides public relations consulting services to small- and medium-sized advertising agencies and businesses.

New Ad Agency Specializes in Social Media

In what likely will become a growing trend, a new agency called Provenance Digital Media in Birmingham, Ala., is specializing in social media and search marketing.

You can take an interactive role in forming the agency by visiting: http://www.provenancedigital.com. A companion blog will chart its creation.

Don Beehler provides public relations consulting services to small- and medium-sized advertising agencies and businesses.

Targeted Blogs Can Help Ad Agencies Grow

Darren Rowse with ProBlogger lists 21 ways to write posts that are guaranteed to grow your blog:

1. Write something useful
2. Write something unique
3. Write something newsworthy
4. Write something first
5. Write something that makes those who read it smarter
6. Write something controversial
7. Write something insightful
8. Write something that taps into a fear people have
9. Write something that helps people achieve
10. Write something that elicits a response
11. Write something that gives a sense of belonging
12. Write something passionately
13. Write something that interprets or translates news for people
14. Write something inspirational
15. Write something that tells a story
16. Write something that solves a problem
17. Write something that gets a laugh
18. Write something that saves people time or money
19. Write something opinionated
20. Write something that is a resource
21. Write something about something ‘cool‘

Many of these tips meet the criteria for a good pitch to the news media as well: something unique, newsworthy, first, controversial, etc.

Ad agencies are increasingly growing their business through blogs that convey their expertise and reach particular audiences. If your agency doesn’t have a blog yet, make it a priority to start one in 2009.

To visit Darren’s blog, go to: http://www.problogger.net/

Don Beehler provides public relations consulting services to small- and medium-sized advertising agencies and businesses.

List of Top Internet Marketing Posts is a Great Resource for Ad Agencies

Recently a friend sent me a post by Tamar Weinberg, a social media enthusiast who has put together a collection of posts that started in January 2008 and been collected for the past 12 months. The list is a great resource for your agency’s online marketing efforts.

Best Internet Marketing Post of 2008: http://www.techipedia.com/2009/internet-marketing-posts-2008/

Don Beehler provides public relations consulting services to small- and medium-sized advertising agencies and businesses.

Internet Helps Ad Agencies Put the Public Back in Public Relations

A growing trend in public relations, particularly when trying to sell something, is to do shorter online news releases on a frequent basis. For example, instead of announcing three new services, a company will do a separate release about each new service. This gives the company multiple opportunities for exposure, similar to the way an ad is run over and over again to produce better top-of-mind awareness.

The Internet has made it possible to reach customers and prospects directly. Ad agencies that include various forms of Web content in addition to traditional media relations initiatives will improve their results by connecting directly with important audiences and keeping conversations going with them.

Don Beehler provides public relations consulting services to small- and medium-sized advertising agencies and businesses.

The New Rules of Marketing & PR for Ad Agencies

The New Rules of Marketing & PR by David Meerman Scott is one of the best business books I’ve read in a long time. It provides a comprehensive yet very practical overview of how to use social media to reach audiences.

“What all the new Web tools and techniques have in common,” Scott writes, “is that together they are the best way to communicate directly with your marketplace.”

Creating a buzz online also is a great way to get the attention of journalists, helping them discover you rather you going to them.

Ad agencies will find this book a useful guide for leveraging Web-based communication and helping their clients communicate more effectively. For more information, visit http://www.davidmeermanscott.com/books.htm

Don Beehler provides public relations consulting services to small- and medium-sized advertising agencies and businesses.

Social Networking Sites Help Ad Agencies Attract Business

Social networking sites are a great way to increase an advertising agency’s visibility, demonstrate its areas of expertise and reach specific markets.

According to a February 20 article in the Orlando Business Journal, social networking also is an effective way to attract new business. Citing local businesses’ success in reaching new customers through blogging, the article noted the explosive growth of blogs on sites such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn:

“Today, more than 116 million Internet users in the U.S. read at least one [business] blog on such sites per month, said eMarketer, a digital media and marketing research site. That figure will jump to more than 145 million users by 2012 — meaning an even bigger audience for companies’ marketing efforts.”

Read the full article here: http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2009/02/23/story17.html?b=1235365200^1781524&ana=e_vert

Social networking should be part of an ad agency’s public relations strategy for telling its story. As is the case with publicity, you can reach a lot of people for free.

Don Beehler provides public relations consulting services to small- and medium-sized advertising agencies and businesses.

Social Media Helps Ad Agencies Connect with Clients

Rebecca Byrd, owner of upscale Greensboro, N.C., clothing boutique Rebecca & Co., was getting ready to open a new store and wanted to find a new way to reach her target audience, generally women in their 20s and early 30s, to let them know about the store and update them on sales and other happenings at her original location.

According to The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area, “Instead of turning to the newspaper, TV or even e-mail marketing, Byrd created a business profile on social networking site Facebook. Through the page, potential customers can receive basic information about the store, see photos taken at special events and even sign up as ‘fans’ of the store and recommend that their friends do the same.

“To date, the store has 62 fans with whom Byrd can communicate directly, sending information about new clothing lines or special promotions and sales.

“’As a small-business owner, using Facebook is a way for me to create awareness about my stores and hopefully bring in new clients,” Byrd says.

“With our struggling economy, everyone is looking for the most cost-effective way to promote their business and, for me, social networking is the way to go… It has absolutely brought it more clients.’”

Read the full article here: http://triad.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2009/01/12/focus1.html?b=1231736400^1758550

 Increasingly businesses are using social networking sites to connect with customers and prospects, and engage them in conversations.

Small and medium-sized ad agencies should to be leading the way in helping their clients build these relationships – or risk having clients bypass them and figure out how to strategically use social media marketing on their own.

 

Don Beehler provides public relations consulting services to small- and medium-sized advertising agencies and businesses.

 

 

“Off the Record” Agency Twittering is Risky

Most PR people would agree that it’s generally best to avoid making off-the-record comments to the news media. That’s because we recognize the danger of having an executive or clients say anything to a reporter that they wouldn’t want to see in print or on the Internet, or have aired on radio or TV.

Yet, for some reason, normally prudent executives and even some PR professionals sometimes write all kinds of things on Twitter that could prove embarrassing to them. Recently the VP of a large PR firm, who had just arrived at a city where he was about to make a presentation to a large client, Twittered the following: “True confession but I’m in one of those towns where I scratch my head and say I would die if I had to live here!”

One of the employees discovered the comment, was offended and replied – copying the agency’s and company’s leadership. Sounds painful, doesn’t it?

Perhaps Twitter gives some people a false sense of security, similar to what they might have if writing a personal journal they think no one will see. But remember, any one with access to the Internet–including reporters, clients, competitors and people who just plain don’t like you–can see every word you’ve written and use those words against you.

If your agency’s staff uses Twitter, it’s a good idea to remind them–and yourself–to be careful when using social media and avoid tweeting anything you wouldn’t want the world to see. Because it just might.

Don Beehler provides public relations consulting services to small- and medium-sized advertising agencies and businesses.