Is it time for your business to talk social media?

Social media in Australia is still very much an emerging form of marketing and as currently there are very few genuine Australian social media agencies. Many agencies are beginning to pay lip service to social media, but aren’t really addressing it correctly or effectively.

In the August 2008 edition of Marketing Magazine, Sticky was identified as one of the leading social media agencies in Australia. Yet, since Sticky relaunched as Newcastle’s first Digital, Social and Traditional media agency we haven’t talked up the social media aspect as publicly as some of our other offerings. One-on-one with clients we have begun introducing social media thinking and strategies to their marketing, but we weren’t sure if people here were ready for a full-on social media information onslaught.

The good news is that social media is beginning to gain traction here. Last year Julian Cole trumpeted the launch of The Population, a new agency focusing purely on social media and with backing from Photon. This is exciting news as there are some good operators involved and we will be watching eagerly to see their progress.

However, many in Australia are probably sceptical about social media, so I thought it might be timely to point to some evidence from overseas of how social media is taking hold and becoming a serious part of many smart marketers strategies.

Katie Chatfield (via Twitter) highlighted an amazing list of 204 brands who are using or being used by social media, including examples of the social media employed.

Meanwhile, I just came across this article in Business Week (USA) which discusses How companies use Twitter to bolster their brands.

If you’re having trouble knowing your Twitter from your Facebook or understanding why blogging is good for business, give Sticky a call. We live and breathe this stuff and can explain how social media could work for you.