Ford Saeks Amazes with the Possibilities of Social Media Marketing

by Joanne Cantor
Professional Member

If ever a topic was timely for members of NSA who want to grow their business (and I’ve yet to meet one who doesn’t), it was Ford Saeks’ presentation on Social Media Marketing at our November meeting.  SMM is a tool we should all be exploring, yet these applications are developing so fast that it’s hard for newcomers to know where to start or for old hands to keep up. 

Ford’s intense, interactive, and at times, humorous presentation – which was supplemented by hilarious input from our members – was an overview of a multitude of options. From the story of his first successful business venture at age 16, through advice on making our web sites more effective (which involved putting several of us on the Hotseat), to a guide to what different forms of social media marketing can do for our business, this presentation delivered value. A few tidbits from Ford:

• “Adapt, don’t adopt”: There are lots of tools out there. Choose the ones that make sense to you and use them in ways that work for your business.
• Before you use Social Media Marketing to drive people to your web site, make sure your web site is worth the drive.
• “Look at your web site through the eyes of a wandering monkey on crack.”
• Use visuals that draw your customers’ attention, and make sure the actions you want them to take are “clickable.”
• Make your content compelling and make it drive customers to buy.
• Focus on your customer and answer the questions, “Why you?” “Why me?” “Why now?”
• Write for the customer and for the search engines.
•  Keywords, Keywords, Keywords – find the keywords that will bring your customers to you, and use them, use them, use them in titles, content, and tags.

“Social Media has now surpassed porn in web traffic.”

Talk about a memorable quotation to convince us that social media marketing is important! Once your web site is a worthwhile destination, social media sites can direct more and more traffic there. For those of us who feel “technologically challenged,” Ford had one powerful phrase of reassurance, 

“If you can send an email, you can do this!”

Ford's advice:

• Blogging is an excellent way of attracting attention:
  • It’s best if your blog is right on your site rather than at a separate web address.
  • Give your blog personality.
  • Make your posts somewhat controversial.
  • Allow comments, but to avoid spam and abuse, make sure they’re moderated.
• Other useful sites he mentioned are Facebook, YouTube, Linkedin, and Twitter.
  • Write your profile for these sites as a marketing tool, but avoid sensationalism (don’t be too “over the top”).
  • Have your blog posts linked automatically to your various social media pages.
• YouTube is a great marketing venue.
  • Post video of yourself speaking (using the Intro and Outro for marketing).
  • Make sure your keywords are in the title, the description, and tags.

So Much Info, So Little Time

Ford had time to provide us only a brief introduction to the possibilities.  But not to worry. Here’s the link to his PowerPoint slides: www.primeconcepts.com/events/nsa08, and where you can also order his “Internet Profit Kit for Information Marketers.” As a special offer for NSA Chapters, “Keyword Secrets: 60-Minutes to Simple Keyword Success” is included. So even if you missed Ford’s program, you can still benefit from his visit and put yourself one step closer to using Social Media Marketing to grow your business!