SOCIAL MEDIA
MANAGEMENT
The New-Age Marketing Mantra
By Vikas Sharan

WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT?
Today, blogs, forums, emails,
social networks/platforms like
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn,
Flickr, Yahoo Messenger,
Skype, etc. have become an
integral part of our lives.
Social Media Management is
the thought, strategized
efforts put in by brands to
reach, interact & influence
people.

WHY SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT?
 Today, information on the
internet is more
conversational and more
powerful.
 Also, with India already
having more than 121
million active internet
users (IAMAI & IMRB report,
2011) the online space is
adding a new dimension to
the word, 'Influence'.

 People blog, download stuffs,
chat & share with their friends,
peers & family on the various
social media platforms.
 Brands & their marketing
managers realize that these
social media networks offer a
vast, very effective opportunity
for marketing & branding.
 Social media marketers,
consultants, social media
marketing agencies are some
ways to tap in.

 Lastly, because it is, perhaps, the easiest business to
start.
 Some Numbers:
 Seed Capital – Rs. 50, 000
 Resources – None (can begin at home, on your laptop)
 Complexity – Sourcing clients
 Licensing required – none
 ROI (Return On Investment) – Immediate

THE INDUSTRY
 Social media marketing
forms a part of online
marketing & is highly
underdeveloped as a service.
 There are many small SMM
firms; plus the big
advertising/branding/online
marketing agencies have
formed smaller SMM teams.

WHAT’S MISSING?
 The industry remains a
cluttered one with
exceptional potential of
branding & enhancing brand
loyalty among consumers.
 The sheer vastness of the
social space makes it an
unknown territory for the
marketers.
 The potential of Social Media
Marketing remains, largely,
untapped.

SO, HOW TO GET IT RIGHT?
 The best part about SMM is
that you can start it right from
your home, all you need is
PC/laptop, mobile, landline
phone & a fast, effective
internet connection.
 Reach out to prospective
clients through calls, emails
& references.
 Have an impressive website,
blog & swanky presence on
prominent social media
networks.

 Select a particular industry
that you have prior
knowledge about; this will
help in understanding the
market, it needs, & other
fundamentals.
 Have your client define its
social media marketing
goals. It can be anything
from increasing fan base, to
have more interaction with
the fans, to introduce new
products, enhance brand
value, etc.

 Work out a way of judging
success/failure with the client.
This is most critical & can be a
matter of disagreement. So its
better to predefine.
 Do not be afraid to ask for
recommendations from clients
who are pleased with your work.
Surprisingly for this digital
business, personal
recommendations are highly
valued.

THE BUSINESS MODELS
 Social Media Management
firms are the link between
fans/consumers & the brands.
 Some SMM business models
are:
 Consultants, Individual
social media marketer,
online marketing agencies,
dedicated social media
management agencies,
etc.

FINAL WORD
 Stay alert to opportunities –
always remember that SMM
is spread across advertising,
digital marketing, PR &
hence present opportunities
& competitors from all these
fields.
 If done rightly, the
possibilities are limitless in
terms of revenue generation
& business growth.

THANK YOU!