Michelangelo And The Art of Social Media
During this year's San Diego American Marketing Association's "Art of Marketing" conference, the "Art of Social Media" was a hot topic.
The title couldn't be truer: it has become more of an art than a science.
Measurable data is important but really good art will draw a crowd.
While reflecting on the topic of art, Michelangelo's iconic Sistine Chapel came to mind and can be related to today's digital marketing trend.
Here are five tips to refining the art of social media: Planning is everything When Julius asked Michelangelo to decorate the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, Michelangelo was hesitant.
Michelangelo considered himself a sculptor rather than a painter, and he had no experience whatsoever with frescoes.
This required him to meticulously plan out the dimensions, colors, shading, perspective, and the core objective.
Many marketers feel the same way - it's a new marketing medium that makes us feel uncomfortable.
But if we want to be successful at it, we need to create a plan.
Consider the objective, your audience, in-house capabilities, and budget to determine the best course of action.
Quality content draws a crowd Many marketers expect Facebook or Twitter to yield immediate sales - delivering hoards of purchasing customers.
In reality, social media is most valuable when used as a branding tool - positioning your firm as a thought leader.
Achieve this by providing valuable content for your readers so when a business issue arises, your brand is top of mind.
Michelangelo's first priority was to create a masterpiece and it now attracts 5 million neck-craning tourists a year.
Tell your story The Sistine Chapel depicts more than 15 biblical stories that form together to make one cohesive fresco.
While posting new original and curated content, think of how it relates back to your brand story.
Your audience wants to hear something different than what is already out there, so provide useful content that narrates your firm's unique value proposition.
Social media requires a lot of attention In the five centuries since its completion, the Sistine Chapel's detailed frescos held up during inclement weather, war times, and art's biggest enemy: tourists.
Your strategy should have the same type of resilience.
This kind of longevity requires two special resources: time and money.
Take a look at your current resources and evaluate if social media is right for your business right now.
Find the human connection When investing time and budget dollars into a plan, don't just value the number of followers as a success metric.
Be strategic about the people you connect with.
Utilize LinkedIn as a living database and use it as a prospecting and referral tool.
Tools like InMail can help you connect with people who fit your ideal client profile.
The title couldn't be truer: it has become more of an art than a science.
Measurable data is important but really good art will draw a crowd.
While reflecting on the topic of art, Michelangelo's iconic Sistine Chapel came to mind and can be related to today's digital marketing trend.
Here are five tips to refining the art of social media: Planning is everything When Julius asked Michelangelo to decorate the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, Michelangelo was hesitant.
Michelangelo considered himself a sculptor rather than a painter, and he had no experience whatsoever with frescoes.
This required him to meticulously plan out the dimensions, colors, shading, perspective, and the core objective.
Many marketers feel the same way - it's a new marketing medium that makes us feel uncomfortable.
But if we want to be successful at it, we need to create a plan.
Consider the objective, your audience, in-house capabilities, and budget to determine the best course of action.
Quality content draws a crowd Many marketers expect Facebook or Twitter to yield immediate sales - delivering hoards of purchasing customers.
In reality, social media is most valuable when used as a branding tool - positioning your firm as a thought leader.
Achieve this by providing valuable content for your readers so when a business issue arises, your brand is top of mind.
Michelangelo's first priority was to create a masterpiece and it now attracts 5 million neck-craning tourists a year.
Tell your story The Sistine Chapel depicts more than 15 biblical stories that form together to make one cohesive fresco.
While posting new original and curated content, think of how it relates back to your brand story.
Your audience wants to hear something different than what is already out there, so provide useful content that narrates your firm's unique value proposition.
Social media requires a lot of attention In the five centuries since its completion, the Sistine Chapel's detailed frescos held up during inclement weather, war times, and art's biggest enemy: tourists.
Your strategy should have the same type of resilience.
This kind of longevity requires two special resources: time and money.
Take a look at your current resources and evaluate if social media is right for your business right now.
Find the human connection When investing time and budget dollars into a plan, don't just value the number of followers as a success metric.
Be strategic about the people you connect with.
Utilize LinkedIn as a living database and use it as a prospecting and referral tool.
Tools like InMail can help you connect with people who fit your ideal client profile.