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Todd Cefaratti on Social Media and Advertising
Social media grants the marketer an extraordinary number of advertising opportunities through networks that feature millions of organic users. Today, the phrase social network calls to mind a number of websites, such as Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Facebook remains one of the most powerful tools for any company. Not only can a business advertise relatively cheaply on Facebook using banner advertisements, but the site allows firms to create pages that organic users can then “like” and share within their own networks of friends. Businesses pay no money for this viral advertising, which often proves more valuable than other methods, since recommendations come directly from trusted sources.
We recommend companies create Facebook pages and promote them through their websites, published materials, and employees. Likewise, most companies should also develop a presence on YouTube, which empowers a firm to post and share videos about their products and services on several other social networks, as well as other websites. Businesses can also advertise on YouTube using videos and banners. From a search engine optimization perspective, these sites also rank very high among query results for a specific company.
For those looking to recruit new employees, LinkedIn allows companies’ hiring managers to explore the qualifications of professionals around the world and view recommendations from other firms. LinkedIn serves as an important complement to Facebook and YouTube, which many consider more personal than professional.
Depending on the nature of the company, Twitter may prove extremely beneficial for promotional purposes. Firms with Twitter accounts can promote their handles online, in stores, and in print, providing special deals for customers who “follow” them. Then, these companies may post messages, or “tweet,” about new products, innovative services, special events, and upcoming deals. Networks like foursquare also offer free avenues for advertising. Foursquare allows users to “check in” at a business; this action then alerts users’ friends on other social networks about their locations. Several companies offer special promotional deals for those who check in with foursquare and other similar networks.
About the Author
As the President and Chief Executive Officer of Glengary, Inc., a marketing consulting firm located in Mesa, Arizona, Todd Cefaratti specializes in digital marketing techniques. Prior to this position, he spent nearly 20 years in various managerial and marketing positions at companies in the financial sector. Todd Cefaratti additionally serves as the Executive Director of TheTeaParty.net, which offers free tools for exploring Tea Party ideals and spreading the movement’s message.
Todd Cefaratti began his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he received an academic scholarship and belonged to the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Todd Cefaratti matriculated at the University of California, Irvine, to complete a postgraduate degree in marketing. With his degrees in hand, Todd Cefaratti embarked on a long career in the financial industry, focusing his efforts on upper management and marketing. Over the course of 17 years, Todd Cefaratti served at many of the world’s leading companies, including CTX, Norwest, and Bank of America. In 2007, Todd Cefaratti accepted a position as the Chief Executive Officer of Glengary, Inc., a startup company specializing in reverse-mortgage leads and marketing consulting. Under the direction of Todd Cefaratti, Glengary, Inc. became one of the largest providers of reverse-mortgage leads in the United States in just a few short years. As a longtime businessman and executive, Todd Cefaratti advocates for free markets, limited government, and fiscal responsibility for individuals and organizations. To that end, Todd Cefaratti has become one of the most recognized voices and proponents of the Tea Party movement. As the Executive Director for one of the country’s largest Tea Party organizations, TheTeaParty.net, Todd Cefaratti’s remains responsible for driving recruitment. He accomplishes this task in manifold ways, including the organization’s high-tech website, which displays news updates, videos, cartoons, and a host of detailed information on Tea Party principles and upcoming events. In addition to the website, Todd Cefaratti and TheTeaParty.net organize nationwide bus tours, host promotional events, and sponsor major conservative engagements, such as the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.
