What do the rules say in brief?

• If you receive a freebie, an incentive or a fee from a manufacturer, brand or company you are reviewing – you must disclose it.
• If you have an affiliation with a company, i.e you work there, or you’re a contractor – you must make this clear. Remember, if you have a large friendship base or followers on social networking sites this generally applies to you.
• In chat rooms and with comments you leave on other blogs, review sites etc – if you try undercut your competitors – or post a bias review, you must make it clear who you work for.

The one statement that I’ve been using non-stop since way back in early 2008, goes something like this:

Marketing is no longer about marketing AT, but instead it’s about marketing WITH

It’s a common misconception that by simply launching a blog, or getting a Facebook fan-page one can tick social media marketing off their marketing plan.

The beauty of today’s web is the multiple platforms we can engage with our clients.

As with any form of marketing, it’s about positioning your product in a timely and relavant way, this is a massive factor of getting our message across to a greater number of people.

You wouldn’t market your new Christmas catalogue in July, so why just post a blog in the vast ocean that is the web, and expect your customers to come running?

By being clever with social tools we can respond to customers, potential customers, staff and suppliers when they are already thinking about your products or services without even knowing.

This begins to create a conversation, negative or positive – and as with normal conversations it’s important to remember that unless your providing real topics of engagement you might bore your audience, and not get the sale you desire.

So next time you think your ticking the social media box, ask yourself; is this relevant to the audience? Who will see this and how will they perceive it? Have I provided it upon the right platform where I can engage in an on-going conversation?