When Lee Odden quized readers/ businesses to see which marketing tactic will dominate in helping their businesses, social media strategies come out on top. This topic is interesting in light of just how many businesses are cutting the monies available and/or normally used for marketing.
At the Online Marketing Blog (http://www.toprankblog.com/), 532 readers revealed that 63 per cent of those polled intended to focus using blogs and microblogs this year. Let’s point out that the microblog site listed was Twitter at 29 per cent, and 32 per cent of that figure for blogging.

Incredibly six of the top ten tactics are Social Media related.

Also in the mix of popular strategies listed included Search engine optimization with 28%.  social networking with 26%, email marketing and social media monitoring and outreach both at 17%, and pay-per-click advertising at 14%.

Lee Odden of the Online Marketing Blog emphasised the fact that the perfect digital marketing strategy very much depends on the type of organization and the target market, among other factors.

“Traditional marketing budgets are increasingly shifting to digital marketing and why not? Internet marketing is often more cost effective, builds awareness quickly, fosters relationships and is measurable in ways traditional advertising just can’t match,” says Odden. He mentions that some companies are prepared for digital and social media marketing programs and many are not. So to get ‘ready’, companies really need to develop strategic plans so they can get up to speed on both best and worst practices.
http://www.toprankblog.com/2009/02/reader-poll-top-digital-marketing-tactics-for-2009/

Oddens research does gowever fly in the face of a Forrester Research poll done last year. According to the Forrester survey, corporate blogs are the least trusted sources of information among U.S. consumers.

The most trusted?  Emails from friends.

G. Wayne Clayton is the founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Integerol/SocialMarketingExpert.org. He’s a former newspaper publisher and investigative journalist. He has been seen seen and heard on CNN, Fox News Talk radio, and is a Guest Blogger on FastCompany.com.