Social media marketing is one of the hottest topics in the online advertising world right now. You hear people in Las Vegas throwing out all these buzzwords in reference to the marketing medium. You’ve heard of people raving about it and attributing it to their businesses’ successes. So how exactly does it work? Why are people praising this form of advertising? How can a business use it to take their sales revenues to another level?

You can find the answers to these questions and more through the following three benefits of social media marketing:

Awareness

From a consumer’s perspective, you want your information and updates right away. You want to hear what’s going on as they’re happening. While newspapers and television broadcasts have been the norm, these same companies in Las Vegas have been utilizing social media to get the information to the masses in a much quicker fashion. These news companies resort to tools such as Facebook and Twitter to keep audiences updated right then and there in the moment.

For more sales-oriented businesses, these social media outlets can be used to announce seasonal sales, arrival of new items or services, and also coupon codes to entice consumers to check out their site and make a purchase.

Social media marketing is quite powerful, and when companies are constantly informing their consumers with valuable information and services through these outlets, then the consumers create a bigger buzz amongst themselves.

Networking

The groups of people gathering together in these online hubs are the fuel for social media marketing. If people of similar interests and intentions were not involved, this online revolution would not exist.

As a result of recent events or news for particular niches, people will want to discuss about this amongst fans of these niches. Word spreads through forums, wall posts, and blog comments. Really successful social media marketing campaigns experience this viral effect, and the best part of it all is the price tag of this type of marketing – it’s free.

Business Leads

The buzz created through the people interested in that particular niche can turn into leads or traffic towards a business’ site. The potential for sales increases the more a product or service is talked about.

As long as discussions amongst peers in a niche continue, then there should be a steady flow of traffic to these business sites. It is up to the businesses to maintain the content on their social media outlets in order to keep the traffic flowing. More consistent traffic equals more consistent sales.

Direct marketing has been used since the early 20th century with great success. In fact, the Direct Marketing Association was started in 1917. It is a time-tested method of marketing goods and services to a community. One of the more successful DM campaigns in history was seen from a company known as Publishers Clearing House. PCH was a genius when it came to direct marketing. They had a method that was highly successful and is still a model for the successful today. Below are five of the best DM tips.

1) Test

Each market is different and each consumer is different. Every product is unique and has its own niche in the marketplace. Therefore, it becomes essential to research and design your campaign and then test the market response. If you develop a phrase that garners attention then you would obviously want keep that phrase. If you are not getting the desired results you will obviously want to adjust your strategy.

2) Research

It will do no good to develop an Ad for senior citizens only to have your marketing placed in front of teenagers. Doing demographic research is a key element to placing the right advertising in front of the right people at the right time. This will increase your sales and conversion rate.

3) Internet Direct Marketing

If you plan to direct market on the Internet use a microsite or an email that features a single product only. Nothing is more frustrating for website consumer then to click on an Ad for umbrellas only to arrive at a page featuring raincoats. Umbrellas may be somewhere on the page but if that is not immediately obvious to the consumer you just wasted your pay-per-click dollar. It applies with email marketing too. If the direct email does not contain a link to the specific product, you just wasted your money sending the mail.

4) High Impact Graphics

Boring and flat graphics are unappealing. On the other hand, high impact graphics that use shadows and vibrant colors make the Ad standout and become more appealing. Nobody realizes the value of high impact graphics like the trade booth operator. With thousands of people passing by their both they know the right graphics can quickly get the prospect’s attention and effectively communicate their message.

5) Emphasize your product’s benefits and features

One of the most basics of marketing techniques is giving people a reason to make the purchase. We all like to have good reasons for the decisions that we make. Therefore, this should be one of the first considerations when marketing. Showing a picture of the product and price will only sell to people that have already made their mind up. A true salesperson can take a non-committed customer and turn them into a sale by giving that customer the reasons why their product has the best features and the most benefits for them.

6) Get personal

Ask yourself if you would be more inclined to read a post card or e-mail addressed to you specifically or to a generic title. Financial institutions realized an 11% increase in sales when they marketed directly to a person’s name rather than to address with a generic title like occupant.

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Direct mail marketing in Las Vegas can target new customers in addition to maintaining contact with current and previous customers. For any business to grow, especially during a recession, sales need to increase, and the best way to do that is to expand your customer base by adding new customers to your Las Vegas business.

A good campaign to reach new customers can be done efficiently, with reasonably low costs via direct mailings. Many types of lists can be purchased. Selections can be made by demographics such as geography, age, income, education, marital status, previous purchases of similar items, and many other categories. Select the ones that you feel will reach the audience most likely to be interested in your product or service. Sometimes your direct mail printer or distributor can offer sound advice on this topic.

Next, design your direct mail piece. This also is a time for thought, because there are many direct mail vehicles to use. Post cards, calendars, business cards, flyers, and brochures are just a few you may want to use. Some businesses like to send out small samples using a direct mailing.

Direct mail companies can offer lists, design, packaging, labeling, and mailing services. You can use part or all of their services as desired. There can be postage discounts for pre-sorted items. These are usually sorted by zip codes, which saves the postal service time and money, so you get a discount in postage costs.

Common direct mail results run about 1% to 4% response. If you send out 1000 pieces, you should be able to expect to receive 10 to 40 responses. Sometimes you can get more, depending on the product, the offer, any freebies, and popularity of the item or service you are offering. This is why many direct mail programs are sent to tens of thousands of addresses. Using a direct mailer that has a return card can help boost response numbers. Repeat mailings can also boost customer response.

Increasing postal, paper, and printing costs have generated new opportunities for direct mail campaigns, such as the monthly group mailings that go out. These can save costs and keep direct maillings very affordable.