When you sit back and really think about it, is your company’s social media marketing campaign run-of-the-mill or are you a leader of the pack residing at the top of the hill? This is an imperative question to ask oneself.

Social media marketing is all about standing out from the crowd which, given the popularity of social channels, means millions of people. You have been presented with an immense challenge that tests even the best of us, and it’s up to you — business owners, CMOs, marketing managers — to succeed.

First things first: Social marketing campaigns need to strategically blend innovation with research if companies want to gain ground. Unfortunately, a standardized, boring, run-of-the-mill campaign will get nowhere. I recently wrote an article about Canned Social Media Campaigns, which highlights the fact that one size does not fit all. Differentiating a business entity from competitors is what it’s all about, not following suit.

Companies need to form a reactive approach to social marketing that listens to customers and responds with relevant information/communications. The simple act of responding to conversations/trends will inherently provide a more personal, unique feel to any social campaign, thus resulting in a higher level of trust and, in the end, increased revenue.

The moral of the story is that self-proclaimed “social media experts” are popping up left and right, and companies must see thru the smokescreens. Choose a social media agency/consultant that strays away from standardized procedures and concocts one-off masterpieces.

Aaron Schoenberger
@TheSchoenberger
The Brainchild Group

Aaron Schoenberger is Founder of The Brainchild Group — a world-renowned Internet marketing agency that specializes in Social Media Marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). He’s known for his work with celebrities, top restaurants, automotive manufacturers, professional athletes, educational institutions, luxury brands and Fortune 500 companies.