Are you presently using social media? Is it helping grow your business? Do you have measurable results that support that? Social media is certainly a media that continues to grow and strengthen its grasp on our everyday lives.

I am a social media junkie. I use Yelp to check reviews of a restaurant before going and I am constantly exchanging news, photos and info with friends, family and colleagues on Facebook, Twitter, WordPress  and Linkedin. I’ve dabbled in Digg, Reddit, YouTube and Stumbleupon.

I’ve met and talked with dozens of people that I’ve met through social media and most have been positive connections that have led to increased business.

Website Magazine has a great article in this month’s magazine that talks about social media and the conflicting reports on its level of success. On one hand you have the 2011 Industry Report from Social Media Examinar stating that ”90 percent of more than 3,000 Web marketers say that social media is an important facet of their business today.” And, on the other hand you have ForeSee Results stating that, “on average, less than 1 percent of website visits come directly from a social media URL.”

So which is it? What do you think? Do you have a success story you would like to share?

Written by: Erika Rossi-Raia, Right Brain Media

—————————————————————————–
Has Social Media Helped your Business?
Website Magazine

Two separate reports on social media marketing were released this week with – on the surface, at least – what seem like diametrically opposite results.

According to the 2011 Industry Report from Social Media Examiner, 90 percent of more than 3,000 Web marketers say that social media is an important facet of their business today. Brand exposure was identified as the greatest benefit, with 88 percent of respondents citing it as a positive result of their social media campaigns.

Increased website traffic is another benefit (remember this when you get to the next paragraph), with 72 percent of the marketers claiming they gained traffic and subscribers through their social media efforts. Another advantage named by a high percentage of marketers was improved search rankings, gaining a 62-percent share of the response.

Then we have the research released by ForeSee Results, which states that, on average, less than 1 percent of website visits come directly from a social media URL. ForeSee surveyed 300,000 consumers on more than 180 websites across multiple industries to come up with that number, which sounds like an awfully poor return on a company’s investment of both time and resources.

Or is it? The ForeSee report also pointed out that while only 1 percent of visitors are coming to websites directly from social URLs, an average of 18 percent of visitors report being influenced in some way by a social media campaign, indirectly sending them to that site. That company’s ROI just got a whole lot better.

For the full article, click here: Has Social Media Helped Your Business? – Website Magazine – Website Magazine.

Do you have a chat room on your website or internet tv channel? If not, you should consider the benefits of communicating in real time with a chat room on your website.  When used properly, it is a great way for ministries and businesses to speak to clients, members or fans instantly. It is one of the fastest ways to engage your audience and create a buzz about your business or event.

What?
Chat rooms are an online tool where users can sign up and join a room with others in their community to discuss a multitude of topics. Imagine a party online where an unlimited amount of people can participate. Most chat rooms tell you how many people are participating and what the comments are for each user. Participants can read and write comments and/or visit other rooms to discuss other topics. They can also watch live streaming events, recorded video, read text and so much more which keeps people on your site and makes their online experience positive.

How?
There are several free or inexpensive chat room providers out there that have embeddable iframes that can be added to any website or internet tv channel. My personal favorites are Meebo or Chatroll but there are dozens of others out there. Right Brain Media has their own chat room that they have created that has a wide range of security settings and personalization options for our clients.  Our clients have the option of using a third party chat room provider or our own.

Why?
Host live interviews
Showcase product launches or webinars
Accept comments or questions during live events
Communicate with your audience
Set up private chats to speak with individuals directly
Get instant feedback
Create a buzz online

Do you have something exciting to share with others? Do you have an audience that wants to hear from you? A chat room may be the right fit for you and your company. If you would like to learn more about chat rooms or other interactive technology tools, contact Right Brain Media, a pioneer in digital media and web technology.

Written by:
Erika Rossi-Raia, Right Brain Media
PH 407-909-9718