You just can't track social media influencers...but wait..now you can

Jennifer Van Grove of Mashable, a social media information giant, exposes the new product from Traackr that helps marketers find influential voices online. The term brand ambassador has taken on a whole new meaning. So how exactly does this new product work? Traacker's new "Online Authority List" is essentially a who's who in online journalism. The kicker is however, the fact that this product can drill down influencers by specfic campagin initatives. The Authority List grades and rates authors by their reach (how far stories travel), resonance (how well they perform), and their relevance(how related they are to the search criteria). Influencers can also be viewed by location and type- activists, reporters, experts (Van Grove, Sept. 09, 2009).

Many in the world of advertising, PR and marketing, know that social influencers are important, but have no idea how to identify the big players. Now, tracking PR results has shown itself to be within reach.

To Tweet or Not to Tweet?

With everyone arguing about the validity of Twitter, many are overlooking the many marketing benefits of the new social media tool. In the simpilest terms, Twitter is a “micro-blog” that allows you to post very short updates, comments or thoughts that have to fit in to 140 characters. While you might not see the benefits in those who are posting what they ate for breakfast, you can’t ignore the potential reach of using Twitter to market and promote your company.
How To Use Twitter to Grow Your Brand:
1. Announce sales and deals in an instant.
2. Build buzz about your product/services.
3. Update breaking news during an event or conference.
4. Share the recent blog or press release you posted on your website, linking readers back to your site, generating traffic and hopefully leading to sales.
5. Network with industry professionals.
6. Build your customer base by following people, who will follow you.
7. Connect with media influencers who might decide to write about you, leading to exposure.
8. Monitor your company/brand by searching for those who are already “tweeting” about you. Respond to their post.
9. Promote a Webinar or event.
10. Build credibility by tweeting about recent events and news relevant to your industry.
With celebrities, national brands and even Obama hopping on the Twitter bandwagon, it is important to take the time to realize the potential of social media in your marketing plan. Heck, even Oprah has a Twitter account now. This should be an “ah-ha” moment for anyone and everyone who is trying to grow their brand and promote their company. The best part is that it’s free and takes seconds to manage.

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