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The Evolution of Marketing: Part 2

As we discussed in part one of this two-part series, marketing has, in some form, been around since Roman times. Don't believe us? Read it for yourself

When we think about how far marketing has come, from the Roman Gladiators acting as influencers, to virtual and augmented reality becoming… well, reality, we can begin to get a glimpse as to how marketing is shifting as communication and society continues to change. 

The evolutionary period we will discuss today is the newly named ‘Social Marketing Era’, which completely took the marketing world by storm.

What Is The Social Marketing Era?

The social marketing era refers to businesses focusing their marketing efforts on being social and connecting with their customers in real-time. This era is the first of its kind. Our marketing world is no longer restricted – we’re living in a 24/7 world.

What Does Social Marketing Look Like?

One major thing that exists in the social marketing era is the idea that marketing is no longer a sales pitch – brands must be authentic and genuine in order to survive in the current fast-paced world.

Social media has provided a platform for brands to show off their personal side, and we can now communicate with customers in real-time. Live video responding to questions as quickly as if they were there? No problem. Don’t want to wait on the phone for a customer services representative? Tweet them.

The main thing about the social marketing era is understanding that consumers no longer want to wait – in fact, they don’t even have to. One quick search on a search engine at whatever time they want is all it takes to find another brand, which is why a lot of brands now have social media channels set up specifically for customer services.

social media

GIF from Giphy.com

Creating value for customers became huge for the social marketing area, and this is something we at Total Merchandise are proud to be a part of. Promotional product marketing isn’t about pushing or advertising your brand to online consumers, it is taking your brand into the real world in an authentic way and providing useful products to create meaningful relationships with your clients.

We can’t wait to see how marketing will continue to evolve, with social media and technology just getting bigger and bigger. Where do you think the social marketing era will take us? 

Did you miss part one of this series? Don't panic, you can still read it on our latest news page

Written by

Katie Reed | Product Manager & Head of Artwork

With 13 years of experience in the promotional merchandise industry, Katie speaks with true authority about all matters related to promotional products. Her attention to detail and creative flair ensure that product details, prices, imagery and descriptions are accurate and answer all our customers' questions. Her articles and other product-related content have become truly trusted sources of information and inspiration for anyone deciding on their next promotional product order. In another life, Katie would have been a star Quidditch player.

Connect with Katie Reed on LinkedIn Connect with Katie Reed on LinkedIn

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