What is IMC?

I'm just finishing up my first class for my Master's degree in IMC, and it seems to me that many don't understand what it is.

To me, it's the NEW marketing and communications world that includes all the latest, greatest thinking, strategies and tactics.  It aligns with the NEW way consumers think and live.  To others, it is simply an "integration" of traditional offline marketing with the newer online marketing.  That is true, but, it really isn't that simple. The world has changed -- dramatically, and so too does how we reach it with messages.

Image via Marketing is Dead

An article in Harvard Business Review's blog from all the way back in 2012 :), explains just how much this field has changed in a very succinct way:

"Traditional marketing — including advertising, public relations, branding and corporate communications — is dead. Many people in traditional marketing roles and organizations may not realize they’re operating within a dead paradigm. But they are. The evidence is clear.

First, buyers are no longer paying much attention. Several studies have confirmed that in the “buyer’s decision journey,” traditional marketing communications just aren’t relevant. Buyers are checking out product and service information in their own way, often through the Internet, and often from sources outside the firm such as word-of-mouth or customer reviews." (Lee, 2012). Complete article.

I continue to witness in both my studies and in my business, just how difficult it is for many in the industry to wrap their minds around this idea.

Not having had my mind saturated and formed with structured lessons in traditional marketing, but rather having evolved along with the world of business as an entrepreneur over the last 30 years, I find it easy to grasp these new concepts.

I'm very glad to be getting this edgy, new degree in this edgy, new marketing industry that is "Integrated Marketing & Communications", and I hope I will continue to allow my thinking to evolve along with the world rather than insist on structure.

I'll be starting a new class on Monday that I'm very excited about!  IMC-634 Digital Video Production.  This will be immediately relevant to my business, and I can't wait to use my new knowledge!

Check out the Elysian IMC website when you get a chance, and I welcome your comments and feedback!

Using Facebook for Business

Thinking outside the Face-box!  

• Where is everyone?  
• Where are YOUR customers?  
• What are they doing online?  

If you guessed FACEBOOK, statistics prove that you are right!

Image Source:  Business Insider

"Two-thirds of online American adults (67%) are Facebook users, making Facebook the dominant social networking site in this country." (Pew Internet)

"Facebook: The 45–54 age bracket using Facebook has significantly grown, increasing by 45 percent since the end of 2012. Out of all the social networks studied, Facebook dominated the older generation’s social media usage, as well as the wealthier population. Seventy-three percent of people earning over $75,000 annually have a Facebook account, which surpasses any other network by over fifty percent in the highest income bracket. Facebook is also clearly the most popular by far, and is expanding internationally—86 percent of users are now from outside the United States." (Business Insider summary)

So, how do you utilize Facebook for your business?  Take a look at this detailed social media marketing campaign using Facebook that I recently prepared:  click here.  It's full of great ideas you can use right away!

And then, if you're interested in learning more about how you can take advantage of social media tools for your business, sign up for a Free Hour of Inspiration with me here.

Thanks for reading!  Please follow my blog for more bits of inspiration on Integrated Marketing Communications!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

JoAnn :)

Business Blogging = Marketing Success!

Not sure what a blog can do for your business?  Let's start with the facts:

• Nearly 40% of US companies use blogs for marketing purposes.
• Companies that blog have 55% more website visitors.
• B2C companies that blog get 88% more leads/month than those who don’t.
• B2B companies that blog get 67% more leads/month than those who don’t.

This data (from HubSpot) demonstrates how blogging is a critical factor to inbound marketing that we can directly correlate to results.

Optimizing and promoting your blog is very important. Frequency of blogging also plays a critical role. Research shows that companies who blog atleast 16-20 times per month see the best return.

“A blog is a long-term marketing asset that will bring traffic and leads to your business. It introduces you as a thought leader in your space and allows you to earn people’s trust.”

(Hubspot)

Blogging is a great method of increasing your organic search engine traffic. Blog posts help you rank in search engines and get found when people search. They provide a great opportunity to utilize keywords that drive internet traffic your way.

A blog is a showcase of your expertise and leadership in your industry. Sharing your knowledge earns people's trust, and surveys show that 71% of people say that blogs affect their purchasing decisions.

Blogs also provide your business with added online real estate on which to place calls-to-action.

Interested in learning more? HubSpot's e-book “Introduction to Business Blogging” is a great place to start.

Need help developing and maintaining your blog? Elysian IMC provides these services. Click here for more information.

Thanks for reading!  Please follow my blog for more bits of inspiration on Integrated Marketing Communications!

JoAnn :)

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Reference:

HubSpot. “Introduction to Business Blogging”. Ebook. <<http://offers.hubspot.com/an-introduction-to-business-blogging>>