How to put the B in Buzz Monitoring

Statistics state that 45 percent of users online have created content. Web 2.0 has revolutionised the internet, highlighting the importance of user generated content because it essentially allows users to have a substantial input to your organisations branding.

Your brand no longer belongs to you. Under Web 2.0 your brand is now a discussion.

Social media is at the top of much sort after search. Search engines source their content from news, videos, podcasts and images. Social media and search now go hand in hand – one is not as effective without the other.

While content is predominately user generated, business and mainstream media also contribute. Put simply, If you’re not monitoring online trends, you won't know what's out there.

How do you implement social search strategy?

1. Blog it

With online figures showing 77 percent of users think blogs are a good way to get information about a company or product, surf blogs and chat areas to encapsulate, recognise and note user’s views on products and issues.
It is the most effective and cost-efficient way to get to the core of customer attitudes towards brands, trends, issues and competitors. Read opinions that users share between and among themselves, and unearth ideas, new keywords and client opportunities through newsgroups, podcasts, blogs, and social media.

2. YouTube MySpace and I'll Google your Yahoo!

Try key social media sites to really listen to what users are saying. These sites contain direct and honest feedback through online discussion and have the power to spot trends. Act accordingly and aim to educate, inform, influence and connect through a strong online presence.

3. What’s the buzz about?

Use online tools such as Yahoo Buzz and Google Trends. A new approach to measuring “buzz” online for marketers you can compare the user’s collective interest in their favourite topics. It allows you see how often keywords have been searched, giving you a snapshot of when and in which geographic regions people have searched for them the most.

4. Trace your brand trail

Track your brand. Search via tools such as Google News and Digg. They trail major media and other news sites allowing you to search and subscribe to items such as RSS Feeds that update regularly. Search blog sites like bloggernity and Technorati and obtain immediate updates whenever a user blogs about your brand. Yahoo Pipes and Copernic is also a fantastic way to track content changes and create a custom content feed of combined interests into one.

5. You have the power to change

Don’t like content about your brand? Change it. Go to sites like Wikipedia and update the information listed about your products or services.
By keeping an eye on daily “buzz”, it provides organisations with an insight of issues and trends about their business and brand.

For more information about Buzz Monitoring, contact Wiliam.