I do not think my company has this targeted approach, and that is a marketing weakness with them.
Today, social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are increasingly popular with millions of people. More and more companies are using these sites to market their businesses, and I think this is where my company is falling short. They have no presence in this area, when many other companies are recognizing the importance of marketing to people on these sites. When I go to my social networking sites, I see many companies, big and small, national and local, Tweeting, posting, and gaining attention. My company ignores this, and refuses to set up accounts, or let us access our accounts from our office computers. It is as if they are living in a pre-Internet world, and cannot see the ramifications of that for the future. I shop online, talk to friends online, and always check my social networking sites as often as I can. When I see a business online, or promoting themselves on Facebook, I may not shop there right that minute, but I think about them when I am looking for something they offer. They just get their name and brand in front of me so often that I remember them. I believe my company is costing itself revenue and recognition by ignoring these advertising outlets, and that it is important for them to recognize them and start to utilize them.
More and more people are using the Internet every day, and social networking sites gain a global audience. That means that my company is missing a huge opportunity to promote itself to literally...
I do not think they are using this type of technology effectively, and that it shows in the bottom line. In this economy, every revenue stream needs to be explored, and I feel my company is falling down in this area. I have tried to talk to my boss and even the marketing department about this, but they have no interest in exploring marketing online on social networking sites. I think that they will regret this in the future, but there is nothing more I can do.
In conclusion, there are ways that my company uses technology extremely effectively, and other ways where they are not utilizing it at all. I feel that for companies to be successful in the future, they have to explore alternative ways of utilizing technology and reaching a much bigger audience. I think that is the only way successful companies will grow and prosper in the future. Social networking offers huge opportunities, and is the way to reach an entire new generation of consumers. Companies that ignore that may not be successful in the future, and I worry that my company will suffer that fate.
References
Calvert, S.L. (2008). Children as consumers: Advertising and marketing. The Future of Children, 18(1), 205+.
Lee, S. (2005, October 1). Reaching out with the Web. International Trade Forum 26+.
Prescott-Willis, S. (2010). Online marketing tools: A comparison. Retrieved 6 May 2010 from the Entrepreneur.com Web site: http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/onlinemarketing/article206382.html.
