SusiesBakery.com
Brand shelf-life. There are many of reasons why it is advisable to get your own Website, for one, your Website is the best place to consistently promote your brand and identity. Social networks come and go and their netizens are transient, but your Website will always be there so that your customers can find you.
Content ownership. Setting up shop and profile on a social network is a great way to get user generated content to fodder your business’ Web presence. But who owns the content? Quite often the network does. Your own Website still presents the best opportunity for you to present the story you want customers to read about you–even if they usually check the network for validation.
No limitations. Your business profile on Facebook, LinkedIn or MySpace can be outfitted with e-commerce tools. Ning and others present smart layouts that can accommodate a variety or media. Still, no platform gives you the freedom to utilize unique design or Web applications the way your Website can. The information gathered from customers visiting your Website is yours alone - and there are few if any rules that govern the use of your Web properties.
A social networking strategy is vital to the success of your Web presence, but there are still plenty of reasons why they should not be your client’s termination point depending on your type of business.
Suzette gardner is a guest blogger on SiliconCaribe.com and a pragmatic Jamaican new media marketing and e-business consultant at marooninteractive.com in DC.
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Great article Suzette…I totally agree!!
June 10th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
social networks are in fact walled gardens that are ok as long as you don’t want to go past the wall. Most are able to operate successfully within the wall but run into problems when they want to grow weed.
June 10th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Some very valid points indeed. One more I’d also like to add is the fact that social networking for businesses is a different ballgame. Saying that a business owner could setup a linkedin profile and/or a facebook page instead of a website is like saying that his/her entire marketing plan consists of going to public or social events and making friends instead of mixing in other very relevant tactics. Although very effective, social media and networking are only part of a successful marketing equation.
Also let’s not forget that these social media networks are not for hard-selling like a website, i.e a different ballgame. As a matter of fact many companies have destroyed their images by using this media to hard-sell their products of services. Statistics have proven they are better used for building relationships, breaking down barriers and starting relevant conversations with your target market.
So, Are Websites Still Relevant? I agree with you fully that the answer’s still “Very Much So”!
June 11th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
@Earl you are right, social media marketing is simple a single pillar in a comprehensive marketing campaign. It can work on its own depending on the product,service, event and what is the objective at that time.
SMM is great for building a different kind of relationship with current and potential customers-a thing quite a few Jamaican companies could stand to get going on.
I believe that any company doing business in this digital age, a web presence is as standard as having a telephone line. Online is where customers are spending more time and where companies can attract new ones. Online is the additional playground, the additional profit centre.
June 11th, 2009 at 1:43 pm