We’re a small business marketing firm in Toronto, and we’ve been getting some local press attention recently.
First we were on the CBC (radio and TV) talking about our 10% HST sale.
The Toronto Star saw our blog article and called to get more details on how we think the HST is going to benefit companies using our print and digital marketing services.
And finally, John Wilkinson, the Ontario Minister of Revenue, is planning a visit for this Friday to find out more about our business, the challenges we face, and why we are glad about the demise of the outdated and harmful PST.
Of course, it will be an honour to meet a public official, and it is exciting to be in the media. However, as a business, we are very interested in how all this raises our profile and promotes what we offer.
How did all this free publicity come about? Simple – by being social.
This sort of thing is exactly what is behind the excitement of social media marketing.
The interesting thing for us is that it started offline, at a Toronto Board of Trade networking meeting.
The Toronto Board of Trade holds regular networking events, and they are a fantastic way to get business, find good vendors, and increase your knowledge. However, more importantly I found these networking events are a great way to get the conversation started. And that’s what social marketing is all about – the conversation (vs. the sale).
Resulting from my conversations with my relationship manager Marla Tobe at the Toronto Board of Trade, I was introduced to the CBC (TV & radio). From the CBC and our twitter feed we were introduced to the Minister of Revenue’s office. And the Toronto Star found our blog and called for an interview.
So get out there & join the conversation.
If you are a member of the Toronto Board of Trade – speak with your relationship manager. Make sure they know about you, who you are, what your ideal client is, and what you hope to get from TBOT. (And if you aren’t a member – Join!)
Be social, and see where it takes you!
**
Updates:
– Article in the June 30th, Toronto Board of Trade Bulletin
– July 2nd: A second mention in The Toronto Star
– News release by the Ministry of Revenue
– And a brief mention on Global TV June 30th (clip not available online)
Social websites are the top way of getting no just traffic through your website, but the potential of those visitors to promote it further on their own social profiles, building your online visibility naturally.
In general, marketing toronto turned it’s attention on the importance of social media websites with the launch of Facebook, since they offered businesses a platform to promote their websites, products and services professionally.
@Vicky doing SEO for “marketing toronto” company ThinkBasis? If you are going to spam our blog, please add to the conversation. I expect more from a fellow Torontonian.
Hello Kobayashi,
Perhaps I was misunderstood. I tried to explain how you can achieve the same results, through being more active on social media websites that allow and encourage business promotion.
A friendlier company that takes from their busy schedule to actually socialize with their followers on Facebook, for example, will surely be more trusted and usually have more sales (products or services)
You can basically get the best from both worlds: create social profiles for your company and interact with your clients, and also attend networking events such as you guys attended.
Hello Vicky,
I whole heartedly agree. Taking the socializing online can be tremendously beneficial.
I’ve actually tried to blend the two.
For example: If you can get the attendee list of an upcoming networking event (easier with meetups http://www.meetup.com/), begin following and engaging prior to the event. It will make the real-word event far more enjoyable & successful.
Thank you for commenting & adding to the discussion – appreciated!
Brent
Not to mention more streamlined. There’s very little to worry about time management and so on if you engage and plan things out prior to the event.
Engaging a few of the attendees and asking for their own opinions on the event might even prove useful, since some might have insights or ideas of how to make the event better.
Good idea Vicky – some sort of follow-up. Even if just an attendee – asking what a fellow attendee thought of the event after the event can help connnect the dots
* follow & some sort of engagement prior to the event
* live connection at the event
* opinion & discussion after the event).
BTW: Do feel free to put your website URL down if you’d like the link – thanks for your thoughts!
You made some nice points there. I looked on the internet for the subject and found most guys will agree with your website.