Earned Media – a marketing buzzword and an important part of your marketing mix, but what is it, how can you get it and what do you do with it once you have got it?! Read on…
Earned Media, in a nutshell, is publicity. More precisely it’s publicity gained through promotional efforts other than paid media. Such as editorial coverage by a media outlet, user-generated content, product or service reviews online, social shares and general word of mouth. Consumers are social animals. Whether they’re a journalist or a social media user, they crave conversation and good ideas.
So if you want to attract positive attention and new customers, feed that to them. But, make sure you’ve covered all bases first and start creating content – content, content, content.
1. What are your customers saying about you? Do an online health check, see what they’re saying about you – Google yourself, check TripAdvisor and Facebook, do customer surveys and see if there is recurring feedback. It is highly desirable for your brand to be mentioned in a positive way.
2. Distribute and amplify your content. Customers want knowledge and content. This can take many forms depending on the channel, for example, written, imagery, video or podcast. Consider the impact a positive news story can have for your business?
3. Build credibility. Grow your product or service, reviews and testimonials. Ask your loyal customers to leave a review, ask them if they would recommend your services. When your customers become the channel, that is Earned Media via word of mouth.
With an explosion of new content channels and publishing platforms, it’s never been easier to reach potential customers. Yet it can seem very daunting and knowing what content will work in what channel, takes some planning.
If you would like help growing your profile, we can help with your Public Relations, Social Media Management, Search Engine Optimisation and more, give us a call!
You can also read up on some of our top tips on utilising Hashtags, improving your SEO and the importance of quality graphic design.
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