photo by OurManInside

If you think about it – it’s extremely easy to lump Social Media and blogging into one simple idea: WRITING. And while it may start there – while building connections, connecting with consumers, and building relationships may be inspired by written words, it goes much further beyond that. The most effective Social Media strategy is to “hit” your community from multiple angles, using multiple mediums. Here are a few things you should be considering (if you’re not already implementing)

Video

Video is becoming more and more popular – and it’s not all about “going viral”. Video allows you to intimately connect with your audience in new and exciting ways – it gives your community a transparent view into the people or person behind your business, the author behind the blog – and that connection is what people REALLY want. They don’t want to be sold to, they don’t want to be convinced to buy whatever it is you’re “selling” – they want a friend, a connection with another human – a human that genuinley cares about them as a person first, and as a “consumer” second. Intergrating video into your marketing mix is a great way to connect with your community.

Podcasting

Some will try to tell you that Podcasting is dead – but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It may be presented in a different way than it was a year ago – people may not be subscribing on Itunes, but it’s still a great medium to use to connect with your community. Why? It caters to the “on the go” crowd – what’s better than making that connection while your reader/consumer is in the car, driving to work, going for a run, etc? Being able to make connections OFFLINE is just as important as the interaction on the web.

Email Marketing

I’m a huge fan of this – and what I love about Email Marketing is it allows you to not only reach people in a new way – but present them with some “exclusive” content they can’t get anywhere else. Building your email list is a huge priority for any business (ask around and I promise this is one of their primary goals) as it allows you to directly communicate on an individual’s “home turf” when you need to share a message. Start thinking about building your own email list and what message your community would really value.

This is the tip of the iceberg – and remember, while it may start on This is the tip of the iceberg – and remember, while it may start on Twitter or your blog, approaching the digital space from multiple angles will lead to long-term success. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new!

Matt Cheuvront is the mastermind behind Life Without Pants. Take the next step by saying hello on Twitter and subscribing to his blog today!

Tags: Business, community, Matt Cheuvront, online marketing, Social Media