Now that a new decade is dawning, it is a great time to review your marketing efforts. What worked, what didn’t and what’s changed? The biggest transformation Totera has observed in marketing has been the explosive growth of social media.

Powerful tools such as Facebook, Blogs, and Twitter are changing the way millions of people connect and exchange information. For the first time in its history, Facebook was the most visited website in the United States on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 2009—beating even Amazon, Yahoo, and Google.

Marketing giants are re-evaluating their traditional marketing strategies. Pepsi is ending a 23-year tradition of running expensive ads in the Super Bowl. This year they are instead focusing on online advertising—including a $20 million social media marketing campaign.

You don’t have to spend millions to see the benefits of social media marketing. We have many clients that have taken advantage of free or low-cost mediums to share information, generate traffic, and communicate with their audience in ways not possible a few years ago. Among our favorite examples:

Organic Seed Alliance – Twitter 
This Port Townsend Non-Profit uses the power of Twitter to instantly receive information from over 100 sources, and has sent more than 140 messages to their growing list of 250 followers. 

Great Bear Charters – Facebook
This self-proclaimed ‘low-tech’ company uses the power of Facebook to communicate with customers and generate interest in their charter sailing business. In 2009, their Facebook page quickly became a gathering place for 165 fans to share photos, stories and reviews for the world to see.

Rain Coast Guides – Blog
Jim loves fly-fishing. He’d rather be taking people fishing on the Olympic Peninsula than working on his website. With the help of Quick Blogcast software Jim quickly posts photos and stories from the wilderness. His popular “Fly-Fishing Report” keeps subscribers up to date with conditions, locations, and recommendations that engage and entertain both existing and potential customers.

Want more success stories of how social media marketing has helped our customers? Contact us, we have plenty. And while we’re at it, let’s discuss how web 2.0 can benefit your organization in the coming year.

Congratulations on the progress you've made, and we look forward to working with you in 2010!