I have a client who is looking to me for advice on his marketing needs. What am I missing?

I have suggested the typical avenues such social media with twitter, facebook, linkedIn, etc. I have also suggested a press release. He already has a blog and I have set up some social media accounts for him.

What else should I suggest to him and where would I get information on those avenues of marketing. Lets start with the free options first, then affordable, and work our way up from there.

Any help and suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks to all in advance for your help.

__________________
Rhonda Holscher, Owner
Rhonda's Virtual Office - Hire a Virtual Assistant

Rhonda,

What is the client trying to achieve? I ask because the best advice you could give to a client is to 'not spread himself too thin' in the social networking arena.

I think you have chosen the best and most utilized social networking sites. Adding too many and the whole process becomes burdensome and ineffective.

All of these sites tied together with a well-maintained blog could get your client the social networking relationships he is looking for. Too many sites to maintain and the quality could go down and defeat the purpose.

Janine

__________________
WRITE FAB RFP PROPOSALS & land THE VA job. WinningRFP unveils soon! SignUp www.WinningRFP.com

Janine,

We need to get the word out about his book 'Design with the End in Mind'. I have set up his accounts with twitter, facebook, and linkedIn and I created a blog on Wordpress. I looked into submitting a press release to his local paper. He is hoping for more ideas like the press release.

__________________
Rhonda Holscher, Owner
Rhonda's Virtual Office - Hire a Virtual Assistant

Rhonda,
Going back to Janine's question about what is the client trying to achieve...I think you have to look at it more specifically than getting the word out about his book. Who would read this book? Were would that market be found online? Then you figure out where and how to market to them. What is he going to do on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook to help get the word out about his book? These are all questions that need to be answered as part of your strategy in determining what to do.

Setting him up with social networking accounts but having no strategy for what you are going to do with them most likely will not yield the results he is looking for.

If you can share a few more details with about his market and your overall strategy for connect with folks then we can help you brainstorm a bit more.

__________________
Kimberly
Facebook Marketing Magic!

That's just it. There really isn't a strategy yet. He does not want to be bothered with this he wants me to run with it. However I do not have much experience with social media. I don't even utilize my own very much.

Ok. The book is about eDesign having to do with architectural landscaping and creating and maintaining sustainability within your landscaping. He has two different companies that are centered around this concept and he wants to use the book as sort of a business card for the two companies.

His market is real estate industry, architecture, and I am not yet sure what else if any. He wants to reach out to those people who can have an impact on eDesign.

Does that help?

__________________
Rhonda Holscher, Owner
Rhonda's Virtual Office - Hire a Virtual Assistant

Just my two cents of course, but I would add in avid gardeners and landscaping companies if I understand you correctly. To my way of thinking it is the home owner that does their own landscaping that would be most interested in this book. As someone that works in the real estate industry as a VA and former agent, I would have little interest in this book unless it were for my own uses at home. Most homeowners trying to sell don't want to put money into the house they are selling. If they do, it is usually on needed repairs that were neglected in the house itself.

__________________
Serita Diana, the List 2 Close Assistant
REVA Academy

Rhonda,

Is the client trying to directly sell a product or create relationships with people who may eventually buy this product?

Marketing the product through ads and squeeze pages directly sells the product but does not serve the same purpose of social network marketing.

Social networking is social and not direct selling; in fact that is discouraged and can do more damage than good to a client's reputation.

As Kimberly says, discuss a strategy. Find out what the client is trying to achieve. If he will not participate in social networking planning and make a contribution, my guess is that whatever strategy you implement may not work efficiently. The client should have a voice in his own social networking both in the planning and the weekly participation.

Janine

__________________
WRITE FAB RFP PROPOSALS & land THE VA job. WinningRFP unveils soon! SignUp www.WinningRFP.com

Thank you ladies for all your input. I have come up with a list of things that I need to research and implement. So I have a start. If I have any more questions I will ask. I do appreciate all your input.

__________________
Rhonda Holscher, Owner
Rhonda's Virtual Office - Hire a Virtual Assistant