Social media marketing set to increase

14:00 4th March 2010

Digital marketing professionals are to shift their focus to social media, it has been stated.

Social media marketing was a hot topic at the recent Technology For Marketing & Advertising (TFM&A) 2010 event at Earls Court.

Darren Dutton, business director at Marketing.co.uk, speaking at TFM&A 2010, said a lot of people at the conference were discussing the benefits of social media marketing.

He added that over the next 12 months it may move into other industries as firms realise how it can benefit their business.

"Other companies in other sectors, whether that be the financial sector or the construction sector, will maybe start tapping into social media to connect to their target audiences," he commented.

Mr Dutton predicted that there will be more social media networks in the future, although they may be smaller and more focussed.

He explained that sites could set up their own social network in order to engage with consumers directly.

This comes after Ivan Croxford, general manager of BT Business, told online business resource Fresh Business Thinking that social media marketing was an important tactic for digital marketing professionals to use in their campaigns.

He explained that companies must show respect for the online community and would therefore receive respect in return.