It’s that time, again. Time to promise ourselves we’ll eat better, get more rest and spend more quality time with our family. Yeah, right. That’s gonna happen. So before we all renege on our personal resolutions, let’s take a moment and make a few marketing resolutions for 2012:
Invest in building your brand’s online reputation Take time everyday to monitor your business’s online reputation. One negative post on Facebook or Google+ could lose you a slew of sales. Stay on top of it.
Spend an hour each day generating positive buzz You can do more than shake your fist at negative comments. You can take action. Every day create some positive, uplifting content about your brand, then get your friends and clients to retweet it across the web.
Invest time getting a handle on Google+ Admittedly, Google+ seemed more like a nuisance when it launched last year. But now is time to integrate it into you global Social Media strategy. Facebook should still be your priority, but get to work at getting Google+ working for your brand. If your advertising agency seems disinterested, find an agency that will be more proactive. Whether you are a small business in Dallas, Dayton or Detroit, Google+ needs to be a part of your arsenal. Update your Google + as often as you update your Facebook or Twitter pages.
Better leverage local search Geo-targeted local search exploded in 2011 and it’s going to continue to be a major trend for 2012. Smart phones and their clever apps have made this important for local retailers. Have your advertising agency or CMO look into placing geo-targeted ads on Yelp, Foursquare and Groupon to promote your small business in local search results. Use these platforms to experiment with special promotions and discounts.
This is the year to take your regional brand or local business to the next level. So invest some time, energy and marketing dough and let’s make it happen.
